‘The Queen is racing’s greatest asset’
WHAT’S in a name? There’s a great deal to it in horse racing, especially when it comes to The Queen and her predecessors on the throne.
In this year of the Platinum Jubilee, countless new collections have been themed in some way around celebrations commemorating the first British monarch to spend 70 years on the throne. In racing, however, The Queen has long been commemorated by races named in her honour.
Pride of place belongs to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, which will be run in October at Ascot, the monarch’s very own racecourse. Since this year marks the 67th renewal of a long-established race, the sport’s authorities had to be a little more imaginative in conjuring a racing landmark befitting of the Platinum Jubilee.
Racing had to confront the same conundrum in the Golden Jubilee year of 2002 and came up with the answer. The Ascot Authority sought the Palace’s permission to rename the Cork and Orrery Stakes which, with apposite timing, had risen in
