Photo of the month

WE WENT TO PRESS JUST AFTER THE 70th anniversary of King George VI’s death in 1952, a loss that propelled his daughter Princess Elizabeth to the throne at the age of 25 and coronation as Queen in June 1953.

The Princess, of course, had not been brought up to be a ruler, but the abdication of her uncle King Edward VIII in 1936 in favour of her father, then known as Albert Frederick Arthur George, changed the course of 20th century British history.

The equine industry, and horseracing in particular, has been very grateful over the years for Her Majesty’s long-term interest and her patronage.

As can be seen in the photo above The Queen’s love of horses was something her father and family encouraged from an early age – she is seen here with her father on her pony on January 1, 1936.

By the following December, her father had become King; such precious time spent with him must surely have become a rarity.

We often forget the influence her father has had on horseracing – the King George VI is run every year at Kempton and is a mid-season NH highlight. It was first run in 1937 in honour of the new monarch.

The Queen Elizabeth and King George VI is the mid-season version run on the Flat at Ascot and was first run in 1951.

King George VI’s most famous mare was possibly Feola. She was bred by Lord St. Davids and, though she was initially owned by his father King George V, who purchased her as a yearling for 3,000gns, she raced under lease as a three-year-old in the colours of the 17th Earl of Derby due to His Majesty’s death.

At stud, she was part of King George VI’s broodmare band, and in 1943 produced Hypericum, who won the 1,000 Guineas for His Majesty. She was inherited by the Queen in 1952 – it means that not only are we celebrating her 70 years on the throne this year, but also her 70th anniversary as a significant Flat breeder.

Hypericum became the second dam of the 1974 1,000 Guineas (G1) and Prix de Diane (G1) winner Highclere and third dam of the influential mare Height Of Fashion.

There will be many columns in equine publications about The Queen’s love of the horse through this Platinum Jubilee year, but it is perhaps worth remembering how this passion was encouraged by her father on those special days she spent with him on her pony.