Flemington

22 Her Majesty The Queen is Patron of the Royal Windsor Horse Show and has attended every year since it started in 1943, when it was established to raise money for the war effort. The Show is a perfect platform for her retired racehorses, who have enjoyed considerable success in the show ring. The 78th edition of the CHI Royal Windsor Horse Show heralded a return to ‘almost normal’ for the equestrian world in yet another pandemic year. The Show, traditionally held in May each year, is a highlight of the global equestrian calendar. It is the only time of year that the private grounds of Windsor Castle, a Royal home and fortress for over 900 years, are open to the public. Her Majesty The Queen is Patron of the Show and has attended every year since it started in 1943, when it was established to raise money for the war effort. During the Second World War, Windsor Castle was home to the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose and today The Queen still uses the Castle regularly, spending most of her weekends there. The week of the Royal Windsor Horse Show is a perfect opportunity for The Queen to combine spending time at Windsor Castle with that of her love for horses. A keen rider herself, Queen Elizabeth II has taken a special interest in horses and racing all her life. Her passion for horse breeding and racing has resulted in success in some of the most famous races in the world, but that is not where her interest ends for these stars of the stable. Following their time sporting the famous purple, scarlet and gold colours, some of her racehorses also go on to have illustrious second careers. And a few of these have ‘stolen the show’ at Royal Windsor Horse Show over the years. The most well-known to date is Barbers Shop, the last horse to be bred by the Queen’s mother, Queen Elizabeth. After retiring from racing, he went on to win first prize in the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) Thoroughbred Ridden Show Series Qualifier three times at Royal Windsor Horse Show, and also took Supreme Champion there in 2017. HM THE QUEEN’S SUCCESS WITH OFF THE TRACK THOROUGHBREDS AT ROYALWINDSOR HORSE SHOW BY DEBB I E H I GGS EQUINE WELFARE