Her Majesty The Queen has been inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame – the official Hall of Fame for British Flat racing.
The Queen becomes the first entry into the Hall of Fame within the Special Contributor category, having been chosen by an independent panel of industry experts in recognition of her unwavering commitment and longstanding patronage of the sport.
A genuine racing enthusiast and a passionate fan, demonstrated through her eight decades of involvement within the sport, as well as being a successful owner and breeder, The Queen is globally recognised for her love of racing. This has attracted widespread interest and global investment in the sport, while her attendance on racedays continues to excite spectators and create immensely special occasions for British horseracing.
John Warren, Bloodstock and Racing Advisor to The Queen, said:
“I suspect that The Queen will have a lot of inner pride in being invited into the Hall of Fame. The Queen’s contribution to racing and breeding derives from a lifelong commitment. Her love of horses and their welfare comes with a deep understanding of what is required to breed, rear, train and ride a thoroughbred.
“Her Majesty’s fascination is unwavering and her pleasure derives from all of her horses – always accepting the outcome of their ability so gracefully.”
Sir Francis Brooke, The Queen’s Representative at Ascot Racecourse, said:
“The inclusion of The Queen within the Hall of Fame recognises her unique contribution to the world of racing, not only as an enthusiast, but also as a successful owner and breeder and as its most important patron.”
The Queen’s famous purple, gold braid and scarlet colours (used by her father King George VI and great-grandfather King Edward VII before her) have recorded more than 1,800 winners since her first victory with Monaveen over jumps at Fontwell Park in 1949. She has also twice become Champion Flat Owner in Great Britain (in 1954 and 1957).
In fact, The Queen has recorded more winners this season than she did in her 1957 season, showing the remarkable longevity of her owning and breeding operation. She plays a leading role in the breeding of her horses, which are foaled at The Royal Stud in Sandringham, and possesses an encyclopaedic knowledge of the bloodlines involved in each and every one.
The Queen has bred and owned the winner of every British Classic (2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, The Oaks and the St Leger), apart from The Derby. In 1957, Carrozza (pictured above) was a short-head winner of The Oaks when ridden by inaugural Hall of Famer Lester Piggott, and the following year Pall Mall provided a surprise 2,000 Guineas success at 20/1. He went on to prove it was no fluke by winning the first two renewals of the Lockinge at Newbury.
Twenty years later, after The Queen’s first Classic winner during her Silver Jubilee year, the Dick Hern-trained Dunfermline won both The Oaks and the St Leger; one of just four horses to do this double in the last 50 years.
In 2022, The Queen will become the first Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, and The Derby at Epsom will form part of the official celebration of her historic 70-year reign.
The Queen’s influence on British Flat racing goes much further than owning and breeding horses, however. The excitement that she creates when attending the races is immense, with enormous crowds congregating around the paddock at Royal Ascot to greet her daily arrival over the past eight decades. And who can forget that magical afternoon at Royal Ascot in 2013 when The Queen’s star stayer, Estimate, was a narrow winner of a pulsating Gold Cup? Images of The Queen gripped by the finish and then celebrating victory were beamed around the world.
Not only this, but there are several races run around the world in The Queen’s name, underlining the incalculable global influence that she has had on horseracing and how this has benefitted the sport worldwide, whilst also recognising her passion for horses. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 contest that is now the richest mile race in Europe, which takes place at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day in October.
It was named in The Queen’s honour in 1955 and other races have followed suit, including in America, Australia, Hong Kong (two), India, Japan and Singapore. In Canada, The Princess Elizabeth Stakes has been run at Woodbine since 1946, while Epsom also stages The Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Derby Day every year.
The Queen has been racing’s greatest supporter for more than 70 years and her induction into the Hall of Fame is testament to her devotion and longstanding patronage of the sport, and the benefits that this commitment has undoubtedly brought to British horseracing.
In recognition of her induction into the Hall of Fame and to mark her achievement, The Queen will be presented with a specially commissioned medal, designed by Asprey and unique within British racing.
Ten-time Champion Trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who has trained over 100 winners for The Queen throughout his career commented:
“Her Majesty will be thrilled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. She richly deserves it because her contribution has been enormous. She loves it so much.
“I’ve found that training for The Queen comes with no pressure. Because of her understanding, her deep knowledge and her thirst for more. She’s always thinking ahead – what I’m going to do with this animal, am I going to breed it, who should I breed it to, temperament, speed, stamina. She’s fascinated with the whole idea and we must remember it’s a very long time that she’s been doing it.”
Three-time Champion Jockey Ryan Moore, who has ridden 71 winners for The Queen, including partnering Estimate to Gold Cup victory in 2013 said:
“The thing I remember most about that day is the cheering. I probably hadn’t ever received a reception like that at the Royal Meeting, or any time before really. It was different on that day – you can see with The Queen how much it means to her; the way she smiles when she’s looking at her horses, the enjoyment she was getting out of that. People want to see her do well and winning the Gold Cup, it’s hard to top that. It was such a special day.”
The Duchess of Cornwall, speaking previously to ITV Racing said:
“I think racing is her (The Queen’s) passion in life. She loves it and you can tell how much she loves it. She could tell you about every horse she’s bred and owned from the very beginning, she doesn’t forget anything. She’s encyclopaedic about her knowledge.”
Brough Scott, Racing Broadcaster, Author and Journalist, and Hall of Fame Judging Panellist said:
“On behalf of the judging panel, we are thrilled that Her Majesty has honoured us by accepting the invitation to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Racing has never had, never will have, so great a supporter.”
The QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame launched in April 2021 and lives online at Horseracinghof.com.
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