Great North Road (Great Britain) not compete with the new railways. The last coach from London to Newcastle left in 1842 and the last from Newcastle to Edinburgh in July 1847. The highwayman Dick Turpin's flight from London to York in less than 15 hours on his mare Black Bess is the most famous legend of the Great North Road. Various inns along the route claim Turpin ate a meal or stopped for respite for his horse. Harrison Ainsworth, in his 1834 romance "Rookwood", immortalised the ride. Historians argue that Turpin never made the journey, claiming that the ride was by John Nevison, "Swift Nick",
Dick Turpin (horse) in the world, and the fifth best three-year-old. On 23 April 2011 Dick Turpin was dropped back from Group 1 class for the first time in over a year when he started 8/13 favourite for the Group 2 bet365 Mile at Sandown Park. His four opponents were Cityscape (Joel Stakes), Music Show, Dream Eater (City of York Stakes) and Higland Knight. With Hughes in the saddle he raced in third before accelerating into the lead approaching the final furlong and winning by two and a quarter lengths from Cityscape. Hannon commented "He's a very good horse and we have left