British Racing To Commemorate Winners Of Races Named After Her Majesty The Queen In Platinum Jubilee Year

To mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year, British racing will make a special presentation to the winning owners of various Group/Grade 1 races around the world that are named after Her Majesty. The initiative celebrates The Queen’s international impact on the sport of horse racing.

The races involved in the initiative – the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick, the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in October and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Hanshin Racecourse in November – are, together, indicative of the respect in which Her Majesty is held by the world’s racing community, and are symbolic of her far-reaching impact on the sport.

Her Majesty’s eponymous race in Great Britain, the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO), is held on QIPCO British Champions Day in October.

The winning owners of the 2022 renewals of these Group 1 contests around the world will each receive a strawberry dish commissioned by Great British Racing International and QIPCO British Champions Series on behalf of British Racing, and produced by Royal jewelers, Garrard.

The first recipient, Richard Johnston of Bylong Park, whose Think It Over won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April, said upon receiving the commemorative dish:

“Her Majesty is loved and admired here in Australia, particularly amongst the racing fraternity that share her passion for the thoroughbred.

“To play a miniscule part in celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, as a result of Think It Over’s effort in winning the prestigious Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes, I find it both humbling and a source of great joy. I will be sure to give him a pat for Her Majesty.”

Rod Street, CEO of Great British Racing and QIPCO British Champions Series, added:

“Her Majesty The Queen’s lifelong passion for racing has created widespread interest and global investment in the sport throughout her reign and her attendance on a racecourse always creates a special occasion. That there are so many prestigious races named after her internationally is testament to her patronage of the sport throughout her life and we are delighted to be marking the Platinum Jubilee with this special presentation.”