Corgis may be the animal most commonly associated with Queen Elizabeth II, but any royalist will tell you that Her Majesty had a special place in her heart for horses.
The Queen made frequent visits to the races during her 70 years on the throne, with Epsom one of her personal favourites.
Her Majesty also enjoyed her time in the saddle, be it either parading through the streets of London for Trooping the Colour on Burmese, or enjoying a more gentle ride on her ponies around Windsor.
The Queen’s official portrait for her 96th birthday was evidence of her love for horses, with the late monarch beaming while holding the reins of two of her own stunningly white fell ponies, Bybeck Nightingale and Bybeck Katie.
But how large was the Queen’s collection of horses and what races did she win
Here is everything you need to know.
How many horses did the Queen own?
Although the exact number is unknown, it is widely believed that Her Majesty owned over 100 horses.
The Queen initially inherited thoroughbred breeding and racing stock from her late father King George VI, in 1952.
Elizabeth’s life-long love of equines started when she was four years old, after her parents gave the young princess a Shetland pony called Peggy. Her Majesty was riding by age six.
The young princess was seen riding at Windsor with her father and younger sister, Margaret, whilst being given riding lessons on the vast grounds of the estate.
Later in life, the Queen was spotted on horseback around Windsor Park and Balmoral Castle giving heads of state tours of her residences.
Her equine love was passed onto her grandchildren, with both William and Harry taking up Polo and Zara Tindall winning a silver medal in the team equestrian at London 2012.
One of the Queen’s favourite and most iconic horses was Burmese, who she rode in Trooping the Colour for 18 years.
In the twilight of her life, Her Majesty still found time for horses – with her headscarf in place, sunglasses on, and coat buttoned up – the Queen joined her head groom for rides around Windsor.
Terry Pendy, the Queen’s head groom, described her to Horse and Hound as a ‘fountain of knowledge in all things equine, you might say a living encyclopaedia.’
How many races did the Queen win?
According to the Online Betting Guide (OLBG), over the past 35 years the Queen has won 566 races and has entered horses in nearly 3,500 races in the UK.
All these wins have added up to a massive £8.7million in prize money, research by the OLBG has revealed.
Her first significant victory was at Epsom Oaks in 1957, with Carrozza crossing the line in first place.
And just 12 months later, Pall Mall won the 2000 Guineas.
The Queen had 24 winners at Royal Ascot over the years, making her one of the most successful owners in the history of the event.
She was also crowned champion owner in 1954 and 1957 after ending the seasons with the most victories.
Aside from the Epsom Derby – the closest she came to tasting success was a second place with Aureole just four days after her Coronation in 1953 – the Queen won all of the British Classic races.
Her Majesty’s best year as an owner was 2021, when she amassed £584,399 and 36 wins from her horses that carry the iconic colours – a purple jacket with gold braid, red sleeves, and a black velvet cap with a gold fringe.
What will happen to the Queen’s horses following her death?
Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, it is expected that her collection of horses will be staying within the family.
Speaking to The Post, royal biographer Claudia Joseph said: ‘It is likely that the queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, and [Anne’s] daughter, Zara, who were both Olympic equestrians and well-known horse lovers, are likely to be involved in what happens next to the queen’s animals.’
MORE : Princess Charlotte’s brooch for the funeral is a nod to the Queen’s love of horses
MORE : Lady Louise Windsor pays sweet tribute to the Queen with a silver horse necklace at Westminster Hall vigil
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