Her Majesty the Queen
British racing continues to pay its respects to Her Majesty The Queen
- Racing’s cancellation extends to include Saturday 10 September as an ongoing mark of respect for the special bond between Her Majesty The Queen and British racing
- Racing returns on Sunday 11 September across all courses except Musselburgh due to the Queen’s body lying in state in Edinburgh
- Nine-race card programmed at Doncaster racecourses featuring the Cazoo St Leger and other important races from the abandoned Doncaster fixtures
British racing remains in mourning today regarding the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
As an ongoing mark of respect it has been determined that, alongside the cancellation of fixtures on 8 and 9 September, all racing will also be cancelled tomorrow, Saturday 10 September. Scheduled fixtures and racing events will return on Sunday 11 September.
An additional day of racing at Doncaster will also be scheduled for Sunday 11 September, to ensure that the Cazoo St Leger and other important races lost as result of the cancellations can take place.
However, the fixture scheduled for Musselburgh racecourse on Sunday will be cancelled as a mark of respect for the fact that the Queen’s body will be lying in state in Edinburgh.
Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), said:
“Her Majesty the Queen’s affinity and bond with British racing was enduring and unique, and a number of our sport’s participants have a close, direct relationship with her. It is out of respect for this, and in sympathy with her family including King Charles III, that the sport has taken the decision to continue our suspension of fixtures into Saturday. The return of racing on Sunday will see the running of one of Britain’s five Classic races, and also provide an opportunity for the sport and its supporters to pay its respects to Her Majesty, for the contribution which she has made to the sport to be marked, and for racing to express its deep gratitude to her and sympathies to her family.”
Cancelling racing on Saturday will also allow the sport, and in particular those people involved who had a close relationship with the royal family, to take in the formal proclamation of King Charles III’s reign on Saturday afternoon.
A nine-race card has been scheduled at Doncaster as follows:
- 12:30 £134,220 THE CORAL CHAMPAGNE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2)
- 13:00 £50,000 THE CAZOO HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2)
- 13:35 £115,000 THE CORAL FLYING CHILDERS STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2)
- 14:10 £100,000 THE CORAL PORTLAND HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2)
- 14:45 £130,000 THE CORAL DONCASTER CUP STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2) (British Champions Series)
- 15:20 £120,000 THE CAZOO PARK STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2)
- 15:55 £786,000 THE CAZOO ST LEGER STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
- 16:30 £50,000 THE P J TOWEY CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2)
- 17:05 £60,000 THE CORAL MALLARD HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 2)
David Thorpe, Chairman of Arena Racing Company said:
“The British horseracing industry has lost a true patron and figurehead. As a mark of respect, we collectively took the decision to cease all racing from Thursday evening but will return with meetings on Sunday, including the amended fixture at Doncaster. It will feature the Cazoo St Leger Stakes and other races that were due to take place on Friday and Saturday. Our gratitude goes to all of our customers and our fellow industry stakeholders and hope that the day might offer an opportunity to mark Her Majesty’s lifelong love for our wonderful sport.”
The five races from 1:35pm through to 3:55pm will be shown live on ITV4, whose coverage will run from 1pm to 4.30pm, as well as all races being broadcast on Sky Sports Racing. British racing is grateful to everyone at ITV and Sky for the flexibility in programming these races.
All racecourses racing from Sunday and over the mourning period will continue to mark Her Majesty’s passing with tributes on-course. Flags will fly at half-mast, jockeys will wear black armbands while riding in each race and a period of silence will be observed prior to the opening race at each meeting. These marks of respect will continue to be observed until Her Majesty’s funeral next week, and further updates will follow in due course.
Decisions will be made in due course about other important days in the mourning period, such as the commencement of Her Majesty lying in state and the day of the funeral, as details are confirmed. We remain in close consultation with Government and other sports as part of this process. We would highlight that this decision has been made on the basis of the Queen’s special relationship with racing, and that other sports will make their own decisions as they see appropriate.
- Fixtures scheduled for Sunday 11 September:
- Doncaster (Flat Turf)
- Chepstow (Flat Turf)
A statement from Charlie Parker, ROA President
On behalf of the Racehorse Owners Association, I am deeply saddened by this evening’s announcement regarding the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty was racing’s greatest friend. As an owner, breeder and avid racegoer, she lived and breathed racing. Her horses were one of her greatest passions.
Her love of the sport started at a very young age. In 1952, she inherited her first racehorse, an unraced colt Aureole from her late father. He later went on to stand at Sandringham and was Leading Sire in UK and Ireland over six seasons.
The Queen has had many notable successes as an owner, from her first-ever winner Monaveen, and she has recorded many more winners. In 1974 Highclere won the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, before winning the Prix de Diane at Chantilly. She was named British flat Champion Owner in 1954 and 1957. In 2013, Estimate won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. The one and only time in history a reigning monarch has achieved this accolade.
An Honorary Member of the ROA, she was recognised as Owner of the Year in 2013 at the ROA Horseracing Awards.
Her Majesty will be dearly missed by the horse racing community and her infectious presence will be sorely missed on the racecourse. She gave a lifetime of support to our industry and sport for which we are immensely grateful. Racing has lost one of its greatest friends. For now we hold in our thoughts His Majesty the King and the Royal Family.
