Description

Cover series BLCS 130 b

Produced by Benham

Below information attributable to ‘Big Saint’ from Australia

Queen Elizabeth II developed an interest in horse racing in 1947 when the Aga Khan gave her a filly as a wedding present. It was named Astrakhan & won at Hurst Park in 1949. She purchased a steeplechaser called Monaveen also in 1949 but when injured in a race she lost interest in jumps racing & concentrated on flat racing.

The Queen was not just a horse owner, she also became a professional horse breeder. Her first major success came when Aureole won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in 1954. She was the leading owner in 1957 with 30 wins. In 1977 she topped the winning breeder’s list.

Queen Elizabeth has been the Patron of the Badminton 3 day event & had the 1955 event transferred to Windsor.