What excellent coverage you gave the oldest horse race in the country, the Kiplingcotes Derby (Press, March 21), which has been competed for annually since1519. You even considered it worthy of a piece in the editorial of that day's paper.

Although not an equine person myself, it was a delight that so many riders and spectators enjoyed the day. The rules of the event mentioned in your report state that if any year the event does not take place it can never be held again.

However, I wonder how many of those who attended the race and enjoyed themselves realise how much they owe to Ken Holmes, a most prolific writer in The Press.

Ken competed in the race on more than 20 occasions; he won it four consecutive years on the trot, on a horse named Tulum, and the horse is still with us at the grand old age of 29.

More importantly, Ken was the only entrant in the race in the year 2002 and completed the course. We must not forget without his efforts there would be no race at Kiplingcotes and the woman from Kazakhstan would have come an awful long way for nothing.

Ken Thorpe, Ebor Way, Upper Poppleton, York.