The racing world mourns Queen Elizabeth II
The nation – indeed, much of the world – is mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which was announced yesterday, September 8.
Nowhere will that loss be more keenly felt than in the racing world, where she was one of the sport's most revered and respected ambassador's.
The Queen was a passionate owner and breeder – she first learned to ride when she was four – whose horses won some of the UK's most prestigious races.
Highclere's John Warren, her racing adviser, once said she'd have made a wonderful trainer.
She counted Newbury as one of her favourite racecourses, and enjoyed winners with a host of local trainers and jockeys, including Kingsclere's Andrew Balding and Hungerford's Tom Marquand.
The Queen first attended Newbury races in 1957, the first royal visit since King George V saw his horse, Limelight, win the Spring Cup in 1933 while Her Majesty opened the racecourse's Berkshire Stand in 1992.
Pall Mall, who would go on to become a Classic winner, won the inagural running of Newbury's signature Flat race in 1958.
The race, now known as the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, was won most recently by the unbeaten Baaeed in May.
The four-year-old's bloodline can be traced back to the filly and broodmare Feola, who was purchased for King George V in 1934 and then passed on to Queen Elizabeth II when she inherited the Royal Studs.
Tom Marquand rode his 12th winner for the Queen at Newbury in May with Perfect Alibi.
The Queen was twice Britain's champion Flat owner, in 1954 and 1957, and, more recently, won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2013 with Estimate.
A statue of Estimate outside Sandringham is an enduring testament to Her Majesty's love of racing and racehorses.
Her first winner came over jumps in 1949 when Monaveen, whom she shared with her mother, won at Fontwell.
Her first Flat winner was Astrakhan, a wedding present from the Aga Khan, who won at Hurst Park in 1950.
She inherited the crimson royal silks with which she has become synonymous following the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952, and then finished second in the Derby with Aureole in 1953, her Coronation year – it was to be the closest she would ever come to winning Britain's most prestigious Flat race.
Thereafter, the Queen won four of the five British classics.
Carrozza landed the 1957 Oaks under Lester Piggott, Pall Mall won the 1958 2,000 Guineas and Highclere, who won at Newbury as a two-year-old, won both the 1,000 Guineas and the French Oaks in 1974.
In 1977, the Queen's silver jubilee, Dunfermline won both the Epsom Oaks and the St Leger Stakes.
Last year, Her Majesty's colours were carried to victory in 36 races, totalling £584,339, placing her in the top 20 leading owners.
The Queen's final winner came on Tuesday – the same day as she appointed Liz Truss, the 15th prime minister of her reign, when Hungerford-based Clive Cox's Love Affairs won at Goodwood.
A statement from the BHA said on Thursday: "All of British racing is in mourning today following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
"Her Majesty has been one of the greatest and most influential supporters in the history of horseracing.
"Her passion for racing and the racehorse shone brightly throughout her life, not only through her close involvement in breeding and racing horses, but in her roles as a patron of the Jockey Club and Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and as the figurehead of Royal Ascot."
Newbury Racecourse's chairman, Dominic Burke, said: "The nation mourns the loss of a much loved and respected monarch.
"Throughout her life, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a figurehead for British Horseracing and we are honoured to have so many memories of her here at the racecourse, including multiple winners in the Royal colours.
"I can express the deep gratitude of myself and all at Newbury Racecourse for her unwavering support for, and appreciation of, British racing over many decades.
"Our heartfelt condolences to His Majesty The King and the Royal family."
Both Thursday's and Friday's fixtures were cancelled as a mark of respect as the racing world begins to mourn the death of one of its greatest ever patrons.
