A bit of history
The race is said to have been founded in 1519, and its rules were set down in 1618. The prize money comes from interest on an original endowment, which now amounts to a small sum, while the second-placed rider takes the rest of the entry fees, often a larger amount. The most famous rule is that if the race is ever not run, it must never be run again. So when the course was waterlogged in 2018, and during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, a single horse was walked round to keep the tradition alive.
What you’ll see
Riders must be at the course by 11am to weigh in, and they must weigh 10 stone. Horses are led down to the start between noon and 1pm, and the race must be finished by 2pm. The course runs about four miles from near the old Kiplingcotes railway station to the finishing post on a grass verge near Londesborough Wold Farm, close to the A614. There is no grandstand, just farmers, families and racing enthusiasts lining the finish, with a bookmaker and food vendors on hand. The going can be heavy after a wet winter.
Watching, taking part and tips
Spectators cannot see both the start and the finish, so most gather near the finishing post. Arrive in good time, as the race is over in minutes. Wear boots and warm, waterproof layers; March on the Wolds can be raw. There are no disabled facilities, and the ground is rough grass, which matters for wheelchairs and buggies. Keep dogs on leads and children well back from the course.
Joining in
Thinking of bringing a horse? Talk to the race’s organisers before you make any travel plans. The account of the 2026 meeting gives an arrival deadline and a weight requirement, but that’s not a full entry pack. Ask about eligibility, equipment, insurance, the going and where to unload. The Derby may look informal, but that’s no invitation to turn up unannounced with an unsuitable horse: a race across open countryside calls for very different preparation from a ride round an enclosed arena.
If you’re simply curious, watching the gathering and the preparations gives the afternoon far more shape than arriving for the final dash. Keep clear of the spaces horses and handlers are using, and ask before approaching a horse for a photo. There’s no need to invent your own tour of the route; just follow the arrangements on the day. Weather shapes the event’s character as well as your comfort, and news that a horse has completed a ceremonial walk is not the same as a competitive race going ahead. So check which version is planned before you set off, especially after a wet spell.
Practical bits
Getting there and home
The course is in open countryside between Market Weighton and Middleton on the Wolds, about 12 miles from Driffield. There is no public transport to it; Beverley is the most useful station, from which a taxi is needed. Most visitors drive and park in the designated car park at Londesborough Wold Farm. Do not park on the verges, as they form part of the course.
Access and families
If you’re bringing someone who needs a firm, level viewing spot, start with a practical question: how will they get from the permitted parking to somewhere they can see? The 2026 report says plainly that disabled facilities are unavailable, which leaves open whether there’s a suitable wheelchair route, an accessible toilet or a protected drop-off point. Talk to the organisers about the person’s actual needs; the short distance on a map won’t tell you enough.
For a family outing, plan for the waiting as well as the gallop. Pick a spot where children can stay beside an adult without edging into the horses’ line, and agree where to regroup before anyone heads off for refreshments. Pack whatever your party needs for the wait. The report mentions food vendors, but that tells you nothing about dietary options or opening times at the next meeting.
Leave room to change your plans if the ground proves uncomfortable. The nearby nature reserve is uneven too, so it’s no easy fallback for anyone struggling at the race.
Questions people ask
Is the Kiplingcotes Derby on a conventional racecourse?
No. It runs along a countryside route and roadside verges, finishing on a verge about 400 yards from the A614, with spectator parking at Londesborough Wold Farm. Follow the spectator arrangements on the day.
Can I enter a horse without checking first?
No: contact the organisers about entry requirements, unloading and course information before travelling with a horse.
Are there disabled facilities at the Derby?
The 2026 report says there are no disabled facilities. Ask about your own access needs before travelling.
Can I bring my dog to Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit afterwards?
No. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust doesn’t allow dogs at that reserve because sheep graze there.
Plan your trip
Stay the night
Search places to stay in and around Beverley for 18 March 2027. Rooms near popular events go early, so check cancellation terms.
Find a place to stay on Booking.comNearest station: Beverley
There is no public transport to the course, so drive, or take a taxi from Beverley or Market Weighton. Park only in the designated car park at Londesborough Wold Farm.
Check trains on TrainlineBooking.com and Trainline links are affiliate links. What that means.
Where it is
The pin shows the approximate area. Open in OpenStreetMap
Make a weekend of it
Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit Nature Reserve gives you a closer look at the landscape behind the race. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust manages this former quarry as chalk grassland, and its paths link up with the Hudson Way, the old railway route between Market Weighton and Beverley. Expect a kissing-gate approach, slopes and steep steps, and leave the dog at home: dogs aren’t allowed, because sheep graze the grassland. Pick a walk that suits the conditions and your party, and don’t expect the summer butterfly display from the reserve’s website on a March visit.
For somewhere indoors, Beverley Art Gallery sits inside the Champney Treasure House on Champney Road. Its permanent collection focuses on Fred and Mary Elwell, alongside changing exhibitions. The council lists free admission, toilets, a café and accessibility information, which makes it well worth researching for a mixed-ability trip. Check current opening times, though, as it may not still be open after the race.
That gives you two ways to stretch the visit: countryside if everyone still fancies fresh air, or art and local stories if they’d rather warm up. Choose one and allow for the journey, since the race finish, the reserve entrance and the Beverley gallery are all separate destinations.
Odd things nearby
- Scarborough Skipping Day 28 miles away, 9 February 2027
- Haxey Hood 30 miles away, 6 January 2027
- Goathland Plough Stots Day of Dance 35 miles away, 16 January 2027
Also in March
- Whuppity Scoorie Lanark, South Lanarkshire
- UK Wife Carrying Race Dorking, Surrey
- Oranges and Lemons Service St Clement Danes, Strand, London
- Tichborne Dole Tichborne, Hampshire
Featured in Odd Yorkshire: 10 Strange Traditions.
About this guide
Check before you go. The race only goes ahead if course and weather conditions permit, so check local news in the days before travelling.
About the date. The rules require the race to be run on the third Thursday in March; the 507th running took place on 19 March 2026. The third Thursday of March 2027 is the 18th.
Researched from the sources below and last checked on . We haven’t visited every event or tested every journey, and the organiser’s own information always wins.
