The Carlisle Bell is a historic British
flat horse race
Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
, first contested in 1599 and still run today. The race's name relates to the bells which were awarded to the winners of the race in the reign of
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
. These bells are reputed to be the oldest horse racing prizes in Britain
[ and are now held at the Carlisle Guildhall Museum.][
It is run at Carlisle Racecourse over a distance of 7 furlongs and 173 yards (1,566 metres) and it is scheduled to take place each year in June alongside another historic race the Cumberland Plate.
]
The bells
There are two bells. The larger one, 2 1/2 inches in diameter, was donated by Lady Dacre in 1559 and bears the inscription:
The second, smaller bell is inscribed ''1599 H.B.M.C'' which is believed to stand for "Henry Baines, Mayor of Carlisle".
Civic records from the 17th century list the bells among four racing prizes competed for at Carlisle.[
The bells were thought to have been lost for many years, but were rediscovered in a box in the town clerk's office in the late 19th century.
]
Winners since 1968
See also
* Horse racing in Great Britain
Horse racing is the second largest spectator sport in Great Britain, and one of the longest established, with a history dating back many centuries. According to a report by the British Horseracing Authority it generates £3.39 billion total di ...
* List of British flat horse races
A list of notable Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse races which take place annually in Great Britain, under the authority of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), including all conditions races which currently hold Group One, Group 1, 2 or 3 ...
References
*Racing Post
''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing, and sports betting publisher published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 60,629 ...
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Bibliography
*
*{{cite book , author-link=Joseph Strutt (engraver and antiquary), last=Strutt , first=Joseph , title=The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England from the Earliest Period , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJwSAAAAYAAJ&q=carlisle+bells+horse , access-date=21 May 2013 , year=1801 , publisher= Methuen
Flat races in Great Britain
Carlisle Racecourse
Open mile category horse races
Recurring sporting events established in the 16th century