Oldest road race

The oldest road race is the Red Hose 5 Mile Race which has been held annually in Carnwath, South Lanarkshire, UK since 1508. The requirement to hold the race is laid down by charter. Permission must be obtained from the Crown in order to not hold the race. This has only been done during the two World Wars, in 1926 (due to the General Strike, in 1952 and 2001 due to foot and mouth disease. The race is so called because the winner's prize was a pair of hose or stickings which were traditionally red.