All the Queen’s racehorses allow Her Majesty to ride off with £8m

RACEHORSES owned by the Queen have won almost £8 million in prize money, researchers have discovered ahead of the Epsom Derby – the remaining classic flat race she has not yet won.

It makes the Queen one of the most successful owners in the sport’s history.

She has recorded 534 race wins from more than 3,000 runs across both flat and National Hunt disciplines. In total, horses owned by the Queen have claimed £7,768,448 in prize money since 1988, according to research carried out by myracing.com.

The 93-year-old’s biggest win came in 2013 when Estimate earned a total of £198,485 by winning the Royal Ascot Gold Cup.

However, the Queen has yet to taste victory at the Epsom Derby, the only one of five British classics contested during the traditional flat racing season.

At tomorrow’s Derby Day, the Queen’s horse Sextant competes in the 5.15pm, immediately after the Derby itself.

Racing tipsters have suggested that Sextant has a high chance of claiming victory after its win at Ascot earlier this month at the Les Ambassadeurs Casino Handicap event.

Matthew Newman, myracing.com’s racing expert, said: “She has a real chance. Sextant was an impressive winner on his debut at Ascot in May and with only four career starts, he should do better still at Epsom. The Queen has Sir Michael Stoute as a trainer. He has had five Epsom wins, so there’s a good chance.”

The Queen has held a strong affection for horses since she was given a Shetland pony by King George V, her grandfather, when she was aged four.

She has served as patron of equine organisations including the British Horse Society, the Fell Pony Society and the Highland Pony Society. In 2014, the Queen was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, equestrian sport’s governing body, in acknowledgement of her devotion to horse racing.

“Her genuine love of the horses is not in question – one look at her face when her horse begins a run or gets to challenge will tell you all you need to know,” added Mr Newman.