They are breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys, or thoroughbred horses, and they have made the news this season. We will therefore give a voice to each of them. Every month in our upcoming editions, we will introduce you to our lucky winners.
By Katherine Ford
For over 70 years of reign, Queen Elizabeth II was the greatest ambassador for horse racing. Passionate about all things equine, an excellent rider and a proud owner-breeder of thoroughbreds, her unwavering support was a boon for the racing industry in Britain and beyond.
The Queen often combined business with pleasure, using both official and private visits as opportunities to explore racecourses around the world, from Happy Valley to Flemington, Woodbine to ParisLongchamp. A fluent French speaker and a true Francophile, she gave the royal seal of approval to the Prix de Diane with Highclere’s victory in 1974, though it was in Normandy that she appeared to feel most at home. The British monarch has long claimed the historic title of Duke of Normandy, and Queen Elizabeth II visited the region multiple times — first privately in 1967 for a tour of Norman stud farms, and again in 1987 at the invitation of Alec Head to the Haras du Quesnay, which also included a memorable ride in a Rolls-Royce along the Planches of Deauville.
The Sport of King Charles III
King Charles III has not yet been seen at a French racecourse or a Norman stud farm, but since his coronation, alongside Queen Camilla, the couple has taken numerous steps to reassure the racing world of the Royal Family’s continued support. Their daily attendance at Royal Ascot each year since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II has been a strong sign, reinforced by the couple’s joy — shared by the public — at Desert Hero’s win in the King George V Stakes in June 2023. Both the King and Queen are keen equestrians. As Queen Camilla explained to ITV Racing: “As a child, I learned to ride before I could walk. My father was a great horseman, as was my grandfather, and I grew up surrounded by ponies.” The King also rode extensively, particularly in fox hunting and polo. In 1980 and 1981, then-Prince Charles even dabbled in jump racing. He finished second in his debut, a charity race at Plumpton, narrowly beaten by legendary broadcaster Derek Thompson, followed by a fourth and another second place at Ludlow, before falling twice — including in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup Steeplechase at the Cheltenham Festival. The future King hung up his boots after six rides. As Queen Camilla put it in her interview: “He had a great time. He’s someone who prefers to take part than to watch.”
Today, King Charles III seems to enjoy taking part in racing as an owner, alongside his wife. In 2025, the royal silks are carried by horses trained by William Haggas, John and Thady Gosden, Ralph Beckett, and Sir Mark Prescott. For the first time, an Irish trainer, Willie Mullins, has joined the roster, along with National Hunt trainers Nicky Henderson and Jamie Snowden.
A Royal Couple Involved in the Industry
In July, the King and Queen reaffirmed their commitment to the racing industry — which faces an existential crisis following a wave of senior departures and the looming threat of a new betting levy — with an official visit to Newmarket. Their Majesties are honorary members and patrons of the Jockey Club, and Queen Camilla is patron of the National Stud. The visit began at the stud, where they were introduced to stallions Lope Y Fernandez, Bradsell, Rajasinghe, and Stradivarius. The latter’s owner, Bjorn Nielsen, told the Racing Post: “As an owner, we were introduced to the King and Queen, who were both very warm and approachable. They showed a genuine interest in the horses and the people, and the late Queen Elizabeth II would have been so pleased by that. It’s wonderful for racing.” He added, “After the parade, the King went over to give ‘Strad’ some sweets. I was just hoping he wouldn’t bite his fingers off, as Stradivarius can be a bit aggressive — but all went well.”
More seriously, the royal couple had the opportunity to engage with a wide range of figures in the racing world. The Jockey Club used the occasion to announce the launch of a new scholarship aimed at improving access to racing careers for individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds. This initiative will be developed by the British Racing School and the National Stud, in collaboration with organisations such as The Ebony Horse Club — an equestrian centre in the underprivileged neighbourhood of Brixton, London, whose patron is none other than Queen Camilla.
Four days later, it was Queen Camilla who presented the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes trophy to Francis-Henri Graffard and the team behind Calandagan. King Charles III was not present at Ascot, but it’s likely that the French triumph was a topic of conversation when the couple reunited later that evening! The King is clearly developing a growing passion for the sport of racing and its wider industry.