The British Royal Family have been passionate about horse racing and horse riding for centuries. Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her 94th birthday in 2020, has been an avid horse lover since her early childhood. She often visits Ascot Racecourse and Newmarket Racecourse, and has owned and bred many successful racehorses over the years.
The Queen’s Racehorses
The Queen is known to own some of the finest racehorses in Britain. Her Majesty has owned and bred some of the most successful racehorses in Royal history, including the likes of Estimate, Carnegie, and Highclere.
Estimate
Estimate is one of the most successful racehorses owned and bred by The Queen. The mare was foaled in 2009, and was sired by the French racehorse Montjeu. Estimate was trained by Sir Michael Stoute and won the prestigious Ascot Gold Cup in 2013.
Carnegie
Carnegie was one of the Queen’s most successful racehorses during the 1990s. The bay colt was foaled in 1988, and was sired by the legendary racehorse Nijinsky. Carnegie was trained by the legendary Sir Henry Cecil, and won the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1994.
Highclere
Highclere is another of the Queen’s successful racehorses. The bay filly was foaled in 1997, and was sired by the French racehorse Kingmambo. Highclere was trained by Sir Michael Stoute, and won the prestigious Irish Oaks in 1999.
The Queen’s Other Racehorses
The Queen has owned and bred a number of other successful racehorses over the years. Here are some of her other notable racehorses:
- Aureole – foaled in 1950, sired by Hyperion, winner of the Ascot Gold Cup in 1953.
- Monaveen – foaled in 1983, sired by the Irish racehorse Ballymoss, winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in 1987.
- Dunfermline – foaled in 1969, sired by the English racehorse Tudor Minstrel, winner of the Epsom Oaks in 1972.
- Mill Reef – foaled in 1968, sired by the Irish racehorse Ribot, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1971.
- Double Trigger – foaled in 1992, sired by the Irish racehorse Darshaan, winner of the Ascot Gold Cup in 1995.
- Papal Bull – foaled in 1998, sired by the French racehorse Montjeu, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2001.
- Golan – foaled in 1999, sired by the French racehorse Sadler’s Wells, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2002.
- Ascot Knight – foaled in 2003, sired by the Irish racehorse Galileo, winner of the Irish Derby in 2006.
The Queen’s Passion for Horse Racing
The Queen has been a passionate horse racing enthusiast since her early childhood. She has attended many prestigious horse racing events, including the Royal Ascot, the Epsom Derby, and the Grand National. The Queen has also owned and bred some of the most successful racehorses in British history.
The Queen’s Interest in Breeding Racehorses
The Queen has been interested in breeding racehorses since the 1950s. She has bred a number of successful racehorses over the years, including the likes of Estimate, Carnegie, and Highclere. The Queen has also been awarded many accolades for her breeding achievements, including the prestigious British Breeder of the Year Award in 1985.
The Queen’s Horses in Popular Culture
The Queen’s horses are often featured in popular culture. For example, the Queen’s racehorse Estimate was featured in the 2015 Hollywood movie The Queen, starring Helen Mirren. The Queen’s racehorse Aureole was also featured in the BBC series All the Queen’s Horses.
Conclusion
The British Royal Family have been passionate about horse racing and horse riding for centuries. Queen Elizabeth II has been an avid horse lover since her early childhood, and has owned and bred many successful racehorses over the years, including the likes of Estimate, Carnegie, and Highclere. The Queen’s horses are also often featured in popular culture, such as in movies and television series.