Engaged couple gallop to glory in Yorkshire’s Derby

Tracey Corrigan, 52, won with her horse ‘Willy’, while her partner Richard Mumford claimed the runner-up spot on ‘Bob’.

The couple travelled from Sawdon, near Scarborough, to enter the historic four-mile race, near Market Weighton, for the first time.

Hundreds of people gathered to cheer the 18 runners past the winning post in reputedly England’s oldest flat horse race.

15-year-old Willy is now going to be retired after his success.

A delighted Tracey said: “It is quite an achievement. It’s about time he [Willy] retired.

She added: “I couldn’t believe Richard was behind me. He was a stone-and-a-half more than me.

“I was really hoping to get in the first three or four. When we set off I thought we didn’t stand a chance. They set off quite quickly. But when we crossed the first road I was first.

“The course was very rutty. I didn’t run last year because I thought it was too dangerous, it was too wet. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

“We will definitely be back next year.”

Tracey has been riding for 47 years, since the age of five, while Richard only started riding four years ago.

He said: “It feels absolutely fantastic to finish second. I’m going to have a few beers and cigarettes to celebrate.”

The couple are looking for a new home for Willy now he has retired.

Guy Stephenson, a trustee for the race, said: “We’ve had a good turnout, 18 horses. That’s more than we’ve had for a few years. It looks like we have a record number of people here as well.”

The race included runners from as far as Staffordshire and Cheshire.