A horse race was run at Black Hambleton from at least the time of Queen Anne. Known as the Hambleton Royal Gold Cup, it was open to all horses 5 years or younger and was raced for over , each horse carrying . The first race was won by the stallion Syphax, owned by Sir William Strickland. The race was traditionally held on the Saturday preceding the August York race meeting. The race was run until 1776 at Black Hambleton, thereafter alternately at Black Hambleton and the Knavesmire in York, and eventually, by the mid-19th century exclusively at York. The training of racehorses continued at stables at Hambleton House and the nearby hamlet of Hambleton.