Lampadephoria

Lampadephoria was an ancient Greek type of relay race using a torch which was passed between the runners. The race was run usually on foot, but sometimes it was also on horses by ephebi (a Greek youth entering manhood). The winner was the first team to pass the torch over the finish line. If a torch went out the team would lose the race.^[1]

References

1. Smith, William (1842). A Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. London: Taylor and Walton. p. 706.