AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB PAYS TRIBUTE TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
September 9, 2022
The Australian Turf Club is paying tribute to the remarkable life and service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II following her sad passing.
Australian Turf Club Chairman Peter McGauran said Her Majesty’s lifelong service and love of horse racing would be commemorated in coming days but also remembered forever in history.
“We join with people in racing and around the world in honouring and thanking Her Majesty for her unfailing service and remarkable life,’’ Mr McGauran said.
“The Australian Turf Club and in particular Royal Randwick is inextricably linked with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her love of the Thoroughbred and racing.’’
Royal Randwick along with Royal Ascot are the only two racecourses in the world to carry the official Royal title as approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
A minute’s silence will be held at Rosehill Gardens at tomorrow’s Run To The Rose meeting and flags flown at half-mast across Sydney racecourses.
Jockeys will wear black armbands in honour of Her Majesty.
Amongst further tributes tomorrow will be a floral display in the Rosehill Gardens Mounting Yard and special tributes and videos across on-course screens.
The Australian Turf Club as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year has secured funding to build a permanent garden in Her Majesty’s honour at Royal Randwick.
Her Majesty attended Royal Randwick on three occasions during visits to Australia in 1954, 1970 and 1992.
On her first international trip as Queen in 1954 and a visit to Randwick Racecourse on 6 February, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes ran for the first time when the AJC Committee renamed the Queen’s Plate as the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in her honour.
In 2014, a horse owned by Her Majesty, Carlton House trained by Gai Waterhouse, ran third in that race named in her honour, whilst just last Saturday another horse owned by Queen Elizabeth, Chalk Stream, carried her famous colours at Royal Randwick.
Chalk Stream in the Queen’s silks of purple, gold braid, scarlet sleeves, black velvet cap and gold fringe ran at Royal Randwick for trainer Chris Waller, the final time Her Majesty’s colours were carried on any Australian racecourse before her passing.