August 22nd
Red Horse Race
Held near Carnwath, the Red Horse Race is said to be the oldest surviving running race in Britain, and the only one whose terms are determined by royal charter. According to a grant make by King James IV to the third Lord of Somerville in 1508, the owners of the Barony of Carnwath must pay annually “one pair of horse containing half an English bluecloth…at the Feast of Saint John at midsummer to any person running quickly from the eastern end of the town of Carnwath to the cross called Cawlo Cross.” The original distance was about three miles. The custom probably originated with the Lord of Carnwath’s practice of training messengers to give warning of border raids. The race was always taken with profound enthusiasm because technically, a lapse in the race could incur forfeiture of the land. Today the race is still run, but has changed dramatically and is no longer a part of the midsummer rites, but part of the August Agricultural Show, and has been reduced down from three miles to one mile.
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