Queen Elizabeth saw one of her horses win at Royal Ascot on Saturday (21.06.08) – her first victory in nine years.
Popular on LondonNet
Free Agent was first past the post in the opening race of the final day at the famous race meeting in Berkshire. The queen was at the track to witness jockey Richard Hughes win the race on her mount.
It was only the horse’s second race, having won his previous outing. Royal bloodstock advisor John Warren said: “The queen was absolutely thrilled and after they passed the post she said ‘I’ve done it!’ which was great.
“It had been a few years since her last winner here. We said if the horse won first time out he could come here and if he didn’t we would leave him alone.”
The queen greeted Richard after the race in the unsaddling area, before accepting the trophy from jockey Richard Dunwoody.
Richard said he was especially delighted to have won on the queen’s horse.
He said: “The queen was very gracious. To ride winners here is great, but to ride one for the queen is special. He is a lovely horse, it’s a very important winner.”
