Epsom Derby to mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Today’s race will form part of the occasion in honour of Her Majesty's 70-year reign
Last updated 4th Jun 2022
Epsom Derby will mark The Queen's Platinum Jubilee today (June 4th), with a race that will form part of the occasions celebrations.
The two-day event has been extended to three days due to the Platinum Jubilee four day weekend, in celebration of Her Majesty's 70-year reign.
The Queen is no longer due to attend, despite being an avid racegoer and visiting the Epsom Derby for more than 70 years.
Although Her Majesty will not be present at the event, other members of the royal family are expected to be there.
Many of The Queen's racehorses have had wins outside the Derby, but this is one of the five classics in the UK that has not been won by one of the Queen's horses.
This year, the Queen will have no runners in the race after her horse ‘Reach For The Moon’, was ruled out.
The Queen loved horses from a young age
Her Majesty has loved horses from a very young age, when she was four her grandfather, King George V gifted her a Shetland pony.
The Queen has been involved with horses ever since, breeding her own racehorses which over the years have won thousands of events.
One of the first official events of the Jubilee was the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which the Queen attended as it paid tribute to her 70-year reign.
Simon Durrant, General Manager at Epsom Downs said, “This year, Epsom Derby will be renaming the Queens stand at the event after the Queen herself.
"It will become ‘The Queen Elizabeth II Stand’.”
The Guard of Honour
A Guard of Honour will also be seen to mark the monarch's reign on the throne, with 40 past and current jockey's who have ridden for the Queen forming the guard on the racecourse, wearing her iconic purple and gold silks.
Among the welcoming party will be Willie Carson, who rode The Queen’s Oaks winner Dunfermline in 1977.
Willie Carson rode for the Queen several times and remembers what it was like to win the race, he said "She won the Oaks in Jubilee week.
"Her Majesty unfortunately wasn't able to attend but the Queen Mum was here and it was just a fairy-tale coming true.
"Riding for Her Majesty in the best race of the whole year for her, a mile and a half for the three year old fillies."
Retired flat race jockey John Reid has also raced for the Queen and had the honour of wearing her silks.
He said "We all know different people's colours, especially when you're riding every day.
"To put on them colours, one they're lovely colours anyway, but they're very special to put on. Sort of the whole room looks at you when you put them on and you just feel a bit more special than normal."
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