Equinties - a tribute to Her Majesty

Author

BGP Capital
September 09, 2022

Equinties

Gm Equinauts

Our countries greatest serving monarch, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully and comfortably at Balmoral yesterday after a 70-year reign over 16 countries in the Commonwealth.  

What she did for our great nation of the United Kingdom was selfless and simply remarkable – achieving the title of the longest reigning monarch in the entire history of Britain.  

Few ever saw her and even less knew her on a personal level, but she has been a constant in all of our lives. As Boris Johnson put it so eloquently, we had come to believe, like children, that she would just go on and on.

It is impossible to describe how the country feels right now, unless your name is Trevor Sinclair, I know exactly how he feels, although, there is one community who time and time again has felt like they had a special bond with Her Majesty: this horse racing community.  

A true horsewoman from her early days, The Queen rode every year between 1947 and 1986 in the Trooping of the Colour (the official birthday of the British Sovereign), most notably on a horse called BURMESE, a gift The Queen received from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1969 at the Royal Windsor Horse Show – this mare gave Her Majesty 17 years of loyal service. 

Our Queen loved all things equestrian, but her spiritual home was Royal Ascot. Royal Ascot became the place where fans of horse racing could, perhaps for the first time, share something in common with Her Majesty - a love of racing.

Rider, owner and breeder, racing was entwined in our Queen’s DNA and she picked up some big prizes along the way, including the 1977 St Leger with DUNFERMLINE, the 1957 Oaks with CARROZZA, PALL MALL in the 1958 2000 Guineas as well as the 1974 1000 Guineas with HIGHCLERE. Her Majesty even managed to successfully breed the seventh placed horse in the 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup behind KAUTO STAR.

That said, of her 640 total successes on track, 24 were at the highest level at her beloved Royal Ascot and ESTIMATE in the 2013 Gr1 Gold Cup is the one everyone will remember.

Whether you realise it or not, Queen Elizabeth II was at the centre of this great sport – from presentations to breeding, big-race victories to unequivocal support behind the scenes, Her Majesty truly loved horse racing and her loss will cast a shadow over us for many weeks and months to come.  

Please keep your comments respectful online during this difficult time in British history.  

Rest in peace, Ma’am – God Save The Queen:

Links to articles that showcase her importance within the equestrian world: 

Queen Elizabeth II Dies

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth, as well as being one of the world's most enthusiastic and knowledgeable racehorse owner-breeders, died on Thursday at Balmoral. She was 96 years old. The reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was not merely the longest in British history, but was also

'My philosophy is simple - I enjoy breeding a horse faster than other people's' | Horse Racing News | Racing Post

On how it all began… “I suppose I first became interested in racing during the War, when my father had leased Big Game and Sun Chariot from the National Stud.

The remarkable facts and figures behind the Queen's achievements | Horse Racing News | Racing Post

First runner Astrakhan (trained by Willie Smyth, ridden by Tommy Burn) 2nd at Ascot, October 7, 1949 First winner Monaveen (Peter Cazalet/Tony Grantham) over