The Queen: A Life in Racing
We are so very saddened to learn of the death of our truly wonderful monarch, HM Queen Elizabeth II. We are unbelievably fortunate to have lived during her reign, and experienced her strength, constancy and selflessness – it has been an incomparable privilege, and we are only too aware that the country, and we, as individuals, will be forever indebted to this indomitable woman.
A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
As events over the last week have developed, it has been a time of much reflection for so many. Queen Elizabeth was known for many things, and perhaps most notably her absolute passion for horses, and racing. A dedicated and exceptionally knowledgeable horsewoman – she was renowned as, without exception, the best ambassador for horseracing that there has ever been.
Racing is widely coined as the sport of ‘Kings’, for centuries it has been linked with the English monarchy and these monarchs have made the sport what it is today, that has certainly remained the case throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth, however, as one BBC reporter said last week, while this is true, it is as much that of the local man – an all-encompassing experience and a passion for millions. At Edgar House, we are fortunate to have our own connections with the racing world, being located so close to the historic Chester Racecourse – the oldest operating course in the world, established over 480 years ago in 1539, and the venue has had plenty of Royal visits during that time! We are proud that Chester Racecourse is known to be a leader in the field, widely recognised alongside its better known counterparts such as Ascot, Newmarket and York for having world class facilities as well as individual character, and of course, charm. A day at the races represents a chance to experience English history and tradition, as well as eating and drinking very well, and enjoying top class sporting action.
This week, Chester prepares for their 2022 Season Finale on Saturday 24th September. It is set to be the ultimate celebration of a brilliant year of racing. The Racecourse are keen to promote and celebrate the joy of spending time with friends and family – this is what life at Edgar House is all about too. Racing, like many other sports, spent nearly two years being run behind closed doors. We all experienced the separation caused during these difficult times, so the ability to be together is probably something that none of us will take for granted again, and we are quite sure that this is a message that the Queen would be promoting too.
Despite the passing of our heroic leader, we know that her legacy in racing will live on, whether it be through the horses she has bred, the races that honour her name, or the memories that she created in the sport. Thank you Your Majesty, for everything.