SIXTY-FIVE years ago, Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed her first British classic victory with Carrozza, and this marked a Derby and Oaks double for a young, though then well-established, rider by the name of Lester Piggott.

That Oaks victory came four years after Aureole ran second in the 1953 Derby, just days following the young monarch’s coronation at Westminster Abbey at the age of 27.

Queen Elizabeth II inherited the breeding and racing stock of her father, King George VI, after his death on February 6th, 1952, among which was the then unraced Aureole. Just three years earlier, HRH Princess Elizabeth had her first winner as an owner when Monaveen was successful over jumps at Fontwell.

That success was compensation for the defeat three days earlier of her first racehorse, Astrakhan, a wedding present from the Aga Khan, who was runner-up on her debut at Ascot.

The filly made her debut in the Sandwich Stakes and found the Noel Murless-trained, Gordon Richards-ridden Golden Pond too good. The following year, at Hurst Park, Astrakhan made amends and won the Merry Maidens Stakes.

Queen Elizabeth II’s tally of winners numbers in excess of 1,800.

Champion owner

Queen Elizabeth II was champion owner twice, thanks in the main to Aureole in 1954 and Carrozza three years later.

She bred each of her British classic winners; Oaks heroine Carrozza, the 1958 2000 Guineas winner Pall Mall, the 1974 1000 Guineas winner Highclere, and the 1977 Oaks and St Leger winner Dunfermline. The latter filly gained her biggest wins during Queen Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee year.

Sadly, the one classic Queen Elizabeth II failed to win in England was the Derby.

At Royal Ascot, a meeting the monarch rarely missed, she welcomed back 24 winners in all, starting with Choir Boy’s success in the Royal Hunt Cup in 1953, a race she won three times.

In fact, the 1950s were the most prolific years for winners, as 11 of her tally of triumphs at the royal meeting were gained in that decade, including Aureole, Pall Mall and Above Suspicion.

Royal Ascot

Queen Elizabeth II won the Ribblesdale Stakes and the Hardwicke Stakes, each on three occasions, and she doubled up in the Rous Memorial Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes, and the Queen’s Vase. Her last victory at her favourite meeting was with Tactical in the 2020 Windsor Castle Stakes.

The victory that no one will ever forget was that of the Aga Khan-bred filly Estimate, winner of the Gold Cup in 2013, and one of 11 Group 1 wins that the monarch enjoyed as an owner in Britain.

Sir Francis Brooke, chairman of Ascot and Her Majesty’s representative, said: “The nation mourns the loss of a much-loved and respected monarch. The world of racing has lost one of its greatest supporters. We at Ascot are privileged to have so many memories of Her Majesty the Queen on this her racecourse, including some wonderful victories in the royal colours.

“We offer our deepest sympathies to His Majesty the King and the royal family.”

The late Queen’s most successful year numerically was 2021, when her runners visited the winners’ enclosure 36 times on the flat and on three occasions under National Hunt rules. All of her homebred runners are foaled at the Royal Stud in Sandringham, which is managed by Irishman David Somers.

Philosophy

Quizzed during a BBC documentary about her love of horses, Queen Elizabeth II memorably said: “My philosophy about racing is simple.

“I enjoy breeding a horse that is faster than other people’s. To me, that is a gamble from a long way back. I enjoy racing, but I suppose, basically, I love horses, and the thoroughbred epitomises a really good horse to me.”

The Queen’s racing and bloodstock manager, John Warren, then paid his own tribute, saying: “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.”

A successful owner and breeder herself, Queen Elizabeth II’s daughter-in-law, Camilla, now Queen Consort, added: “The Queen is the biggest racing expert of all time. There is nothing she doesn’t know about racing and you wouldn’t want to think you knew better, because she does have all the answers.

“I think racing is her 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.”