Spittin' Mick's jacket finds a fitting new home in Yorkshire

It's not quite Joseph's technicolour dreamcoat – more like Mick's coat of one colour. But it might just date back to biblical times, given its state of disrepair.

And few fashion items have been handed over with as much ceremony or done so much to raise money for a thoroughly worthwhile cause.

Last month Mick Easterby put his green puffa jacket up for auction in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the charity he raises money for through his annual point-to-point.

He reckons the historical garment dates back at least to the day he won the Cesarewitch at Newmarket with Boismoss in 1967, and "has more holes in it than the sprinkler at Kew Gardens".

Yet that did not stop York racecourse bidding £500 to keep such a priceless artefact in Yorkshire, and they took official ownership of the jacket in a ceremony during racing on the Knavesmire on Friday.

Easterby took the mic and playfully made as if to re-auction it but said: "It's very kind of York racecourse to give £500."

'I'm not sure what we're going to do with it'

York chief executive William Derby said: "Mick does a huge amount of work for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and everybody has a huge amount to be very grateful for their voluntary service so we wanted to support him.

"I'm not quite sure what we're going to do with it – I'm sure we'll find somewhere suitable to display it. But they are a fantastic charity and all credit to Mick for the amount he has raised for them."

The chances are that this slice of Yorkshire racing history will end up in the glass display case in the Ebor stand, alongside Fred Archer's whip, Edward Hide's boots and the cap that Eph Smith wore when winning the King George on Aureole for the Queen in 1954.

The cap Eph Smith wore when winning on AureoleCredit: David Carr

Already there is the jersey that the notably slim and athletic Chris Froome signed and handed over after stage two of the 2014 Tour de France, which started on the course.

Of course, there will be no confusing the two items. Froome's jacket is yellow.

Chris Froome's yellow jersey from the 2014 Tour de FranceCredit: David Carr