Queen to receive special tribute in honor of her love for this pastime—‘without her we would be a little bit lost’

The world of racing will celebrate the Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee with a special tribute. Her Majesty is a well-known lover of the sport and has reared award-winning racehorses for most of her life. Her Majesty is expected to receive the honor in person at the iconic Epsom Derby this summer.

• The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will include a special tribute from the horse racing industry, something the Queen is known to be passionate about. 
• Past and present jockeys who have ridden the Queen’s horses will form a Guard of Honor for Her Majesty at the Epsom Derby.
• In other royal news, Prince Charles' heartfelt tribute to his mother the Queen shows their close bond.

The Queen is a known lover of horses, with her recent birthday photo including Her Majesty posing with two magnificent ponies, and she is no stranger to the competitive sport of horse racing.

Last year, Her Majesty was even awarded a huge honor in recognition of her passion for horse racing, being inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, the official Hall of Fame for British Flat racing.

So, Her Majesty must be thrilled with the latest addition to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

A plethora of leading figures in horse racing, including celebrated jockeys Frankie Dettori and Willie Carson—who have ridden some of the Queen’s most memorable winners—are expected to line part of the Epsom Derby course with up to 40 others when she arrives in a traditional Guard of Honor.

It is understood that the Queen is likely to attend the Derby in person on 4 June for the tribute, an exciting moment for Her Majesty who has been forced to cancel engagements in recent months following health and mobility issues.

Before the pandemic, the Queen had only missed two Derby meets.

Not only will prominent jockeys form the Guard of Honor for the Queen, the Jockey Club has announced that in the days preceding the Derby, the Queen’s Stand at Epsom Downs Racecourse will be renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Stand, in recognition of her contribution to horseracing and her long association with the Derby.

Though Her Majesty has never won at the Epsom Derby, horses owned by the Queen have won four out of the five flat racing classics—the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks, and the St Leger.

One of the Queen’s most triumphant horse racing victories was when her horse, Dunfermline, ridden by Willie Carson won in the Oaks and St Leger back in 1977.

Willie Carson has spoken proudly of riding for the Queen, saying, “when you put the Queen’s colors on, especially at Epsom, a jockey would grow six inches. It makes you feel important when you put those colors on.”

He continued, “The Queen is the most famous woman in the whole wide world, so you’re privileged. She’s the patron of racing. Without her we would be a little bit lost, because her patronage is a very valuable thing.”