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
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’.”
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