Royal Ascot has renamed one of its biggest races in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The feature sprint, the Platinum Jubilee Stakes which is staged on the Saturday of the five day meeting, will now be known as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
The late Queen’s love of racing and passion for breeding was rewarded with Classic success in all of the major British races except the Derby.
But the royal meeting at Ascot was the fixture she became synonymous with during her 70 year reign.
As a racehorse owner she had 24 winners at Royal Ascot, celebrating her first victory when Choir Boy landed the 1953 Royal Hunt Cup. Her final winner was Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes three years ago.
The meeting was also the scene of one of her finest hours as an owner when Estimate captured the 2013 Gold Cup.
To honour the late Queen’s patronage and with the blessing of the King, Ascot have decided to change the name of Saturday’s six-furlong feature once again.
Sir Francis Brooke Bt., the King’s Representative at Ascot, said: “The late Queen’s close association with Ascot Racecourse was well known throughout the world, but no race at the Royal Meeting previously carried the name of Queen Elizabeth II.
“His Majesty the King has approved the renaming of the Platinum Jubilee Stakes to The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. This will both honour Her Late Majesty in perpetuity and maintain the connection with the three Jubilees celebrated since the inception of the race as the Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2002.”
