Figure 1 Queen Elizabeth II loved all horses – but the racing ones were her favorite
The Royal family has not always been too closely associated with any of the most popular sports in the UK. Prince William is a well-known Aston Villa fan and has also been the president of the Football Association for almost 20 years, but little else is known about personal sporting affiliations and interests. That is apart from the family’s intense love of horseracing.
The late Queen Elizabeth II was a huge fan of the “sport of kings” and carried on the tradition from her mother and many before that. Even after her sad death, the royal family has continued to be connected with the sport and there are various races and meetings named in their honor.
If you are a fan of the sport yourself, you will know that you can get all kinds of information on horse racing apps these days. But if you are looking for a horse to back you could do worse than looking for horses owned by the crown. Here are seven of the best who did their bit for the country and their regal owner.
Aureole
Apart from being one of Queen Elizabeth II’s most successful horses, Aureole was one of the first she owned, after inheriting the stallion from her father, King George VI, in 1952. Winning 11 of his 14 races over a two-year period, Aureole will have helped the late monarch’s love of horseracing blossom.
It was the last four races of Aureole’s career when he really made a name for himself. After surprisingly being beaten in a number of big races, Aureole capped off an impressive race life by winning the Victor Wild Stakes, the Coronation Cup, the Hardwicke Stakes, and finished by claiming the prestigious King George – named after his previous owner, of course.
Pall Mall
Surely there has never been a royal-owned horse so aptly named? But it wasn’t just the amusing title given to this horse that cemented its place in history. Owned and bred by Queen Elizabeth II, Pall Mall was one of the best two-year-olds in the country in 1957. But it was the next year when he really made headlines.
Bald Eagle, from the same stable, was the favorite for the 2000 Guineas in 1958 and Pall Mall started the race as a 20/1 outsider. But in a close race, Pall Mall took the lead a furlong and a half from the finish and crossed the line to rapturous applause. Unfortunately, the Queen didn’t see the drama unfold, as she was unable to attend because of illness.
Highclere
Named after the home of the Queen’s racing manager, Lord Carnarvon, Highclere did not look as though she would be one of the most successful of the crown-owned horses in her early career. She won just once as a two-year-old and had made pretty hard work of that victory.
It was Escorial who was expected to be the best royal filly in 1974 but Highclere, entering the 1000 Guineas at 12/1, broke away from the pack and won a race that had been considered too long for her. She then went on to capture the double, winning the Prix de Diane at Chantilly. She never hit the same heights again and retired to stud the next year.
Dunfermline
Dunfermline enjoyed an unspectacular first year of racing but seemed to save all her success for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee year in 1977. Three races as a two-year-old had brought places in all but no success, so little was expected from her. But she obviously decided that the jubilee was something to celebrate.
The mare won her first race in the Pretty Polly Stakes but made her name by crossing the line first in the Oaks and then beating Alleged to the St. Leger title later in the year. That turned out to be the only time the double Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner was ever beaten.
Carlton House
The Derby was the only British Classic that a horse owned by Queen Elizabeth II never won. But it was Carlton House that arguably came closest to completing the set in 2011. It was the first time in 30 years that the Queen had entered a horse in the race and Carlton House was actually the pre-race favorite.
The stallion had already impressed by winning the Dante Stakes at York that year but didn’t enjoy the smoothest of runs and ended up coming third in one of the most memorable Derby races of recent times. Carlton House was later transferred to Gai Waterhouse, becoming the first-ever horse owned by the Queen to be trained in Australia.
Figure 2 The Crown has a long history of horse racing involvement
Carrozza
This filly was another horse that probably had a lot to do with Queen Elizabeth II becoming so passionate about the sport. Carrozza looked good as a two-year-old but really became successful the next year, bringing the Queen her first-ever British classic victory in 1957.
Noel Murless is the trainer who can claim the credit for Carrozza’s success, with the work put in at Newmarket resulting in the Oaks win at Epsom. Carrozza had only finished fourth after being the favorite for the 1000 Guineas trial earlier in the year but just finished ahead of Silken Glider to win the Oaks, helping the Queen to finish the year as the Champion Owner.
Estimate
Along with the Derby, the Ascot Gold Cup was one race that the Queen had always wanted to win. But it took until 2013 before she was finally able to celebrate a victory – and it was Estimate that brought her that success. Everyone, including a delighted monarch, celebrated the win.
It was Estimate’s four-year-old season that turned out to be the most profitable, winning a number of other races before retiring the next year. As a Derby winner, she would always hold a special place in the heart of Queen Elizabeth II – a royal who definitely loved this most noble of sports.
