Two days before her sad death, Queen Elizabeth II was “as sharp as a tack” in a conversation with her horse trainer.
Her Majesty has a long-standing fondness for horses and has been described as “at her happiest” at the races.
After her passing, winning footage of the Queen celebrating her filly Estimate’s death in the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup surfaced, demonstrating how much the sport and animals brought her pleasure.
Tuesday, an hour before Boris Johnson came at her Balmoral estate to quit and hand over the government to Liz Truss, the monarch had a lengthy conversation with Clive Cox.
Mr. Cox is responsible for a number of the Queen’s fifty racehorses, including her filly Love Affairs, who won at Goodwood on September 6 and marked the end of her long career as a racehorse owner.
Members of the Royal family applaud as the Queen’s horse crosses the finish line first at the 2013 Ascot.
She was never happy than when she was on a racetrack watching her horses. Photographed while observing her filly Estimate win the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup
Trainer Clive Cox (left) and jockey Adam Kirby (right) celebrate the victory of the Queen’s horse, Love Affairs, at the Goodwood race course on September 6, two days before the monarch’s death.
The Queen was fond of her horses. Photographed at Ascot trotting in June 1961
The late Queen reputedly continued to ride about Windsor Castle well into her nineties, against the advise of her medical team.
Mr. Cox told The Times that she spoke to him on the morning before every race, and that these chats were “the greatest privilege of [his] life.”
When I called on Tuesday, I was informed that the Queen was quite busy, which is acceptable. However, the phone rang at 10 o’clock, and it was Her Majesty on the line,’ he recalled.
We discussed the filly, how the race would play out, how another horse of hers was doing in my stable, and other topics. She was as sharp as a razor blade.
On Tuesday, an hour before Boris Johnson arrived at her Balmoral estate to resign and pass over power to Liz Truss, the monarch spoke at length with Clive Cox (pictured together). Mr. Cox is in charge of a number of the Queen’s fifty racehorses.
In 1960, the Queen rides a black horse along the course at Ascot Races.
Willie Carson, one of a number of jockeys who competed for the Queen, told the Racing Post that the sport had lost its most influential advocate.
‘Obviously, winning a race brought her immense joy, but the horse was her greatest source of happiness. She adored horses and the countryside, and we have just lost someone irreplaceable,’ he said.
John Warren, her racing consultant, famously remarked, “If the Queen were not the Queen, she would have been a fantastic trainer.” She has a great rapport with her horses and is incredibly intuitive.
The only days annually reserved in her calendar were Derby day and Royal Ascot. The Racing Post, a daily newspaper devoted to horse racing, was a common morning read.
It is expected that the new King would inherit the Queen’s stables and Royal Ascot, although Queen Consort Camilla will likely take on the sport’s sponsorship.
She is believed to be “very enamored with racing” and received a good recommendation from Mr. Warren.
Mr. Cox stated that speaking with the Queen was one of the greatest honors of his life.