Royal Ascot

My great uncle was a farrier sergeant in WW1 and I always remember him telling me that the cavalrymen all made a pact with their friends that they would shoot each other's horses if necessary, so that no one had to shoot his own. He also told me that you could smell a horse with navicular disease from half way down the road but I never got a chance to try that one out.

I saw a wonderful statue in Paris of what looked like a WW1 soldier standing next to a horse; it reminded me of War Horse. I've googled it but can't find anything that resembles it. The tour guide didn't know which statue I meant, either. Iam; it's the smell of hoof oil that gets me. We used to have an old arthritic pony that wouldn't lift it's legs but I always dreamed of having a pony that just lifted whichever leg you pointed to [I saw a gypsy do that one day]. Our last pony did that. OK she was a real madam about everything else, but I was so proud of the leg lifting . I daren't go near a horse market, cause I know I would come back with one. I never actually rode them but reckon it was years of muck picking that ruined my joints .

Horses - wonderful, glorious, beautiful creatures aren't they. I had to stop riding in my 50's due to arthritis, but sometimes still dream I'm back there. There is something special about the way horses and people communicate.

I watched the race earlier today, having missed it on Saturday, and the horse wasn't hard ridden and appeared to win quite easily. On top of everything else Sir Robert Ogden had switched most of his horses from the jumps because of the attrition rate in that sphere and he'd also lost poor Exotic Dancer a few years back who died after [but not immediately after] a race of something similar. Johnny Murtagh is one of my favourite jockeys and I understand that he was distraught afterwards as well.

Are you a "horsey" person too, then Aka??

It was a dreadful thing wasn't it? You must always wonder if there was something you missed. And very hard coming so soon after Sir Henry. Of course horses are like children - they give you a reason to keep getting up in the morning.

I am so glad I was away on Saturday and missed the racing and I have shed many a tear over Sir Henry's passing of late. Thomas Chippendale was the most beautiful horse. I am in awe of the strength of character that Lady Jane is showing at the moment and the way the stable are supporting each other. I had a wonderful letter from a girl who worked for Sir Henry many many years ago, but at the time I didn't really know who the great man was. However, when there are horses to be trained and cared for there is no time for self pity as they and their needs come first.

As a racing fan, but not especially a Royal fan, I loved the photos of the Queen showing the genuine pleasure and enjoyment that any owner would have felt in the same circumstances.

On another note, the true distress shown by the lad to Thomas Chippendale on Saturday shows the other side of the passion that horses and racing can bring. The fact that ten minutes later he was able to be interviewed and show the strength that the whole yard had pulled together following the death of Henry Cecil was commendable.

'Push button ponies' we used to call them, but ridden by incompetents and turned out by the family groom yet often beaten by a dedicated little rider on a home trained pony, with sticking out plaits

The wonderful thing about horses is that they are not impressed by money or status. You can spend hundreds of thousands of pounds and without the knowledge and experience you will never win a thing. Even the smallest country show will have examples of expensive horses performing disastrously because the owners think that if they spend enough money everything else will follow.

I think the Queen's joy speaks volumes. No matter how rich or privileged you are, achieving an elusive dream can mean a lot. Her delight was a tribute to all her employees who pride themselves on their hard work and dedication to a career that's not for the faint-hearted. Joy can so easily turn to sorrow in the horse world and she has experienced both.

Bluebell you must be feeling sad, most folk enjoy seeing others enjoying themselves. Would you rather we had a miserable old dictator.

bluebell would you call yourself a happy person?

#whatsup

OK the Queen is a rich old woman spending vast amounts of money on her horses, but what about the other owners? The Makhtoum brothers come to mind - they would happily spend my year's pension on a falcon, never mind a horse. I suspect that she is quite small scale compared with some of them. Presumably some people would like to stop the whole thing, but it's obviously a massive business and countrywide must provide a living for a lot of people.

Well said Iam64 surely no one can object to someone enjoying something so much. Lots of people, like me, must have laughed with the Queen, and I too thought that the trainer was going to kiss her - it did look as if he slapped her on the knee though!

"Rich old woman .... " - so many negatives. Whilst not everyone supports the idea of a monarchy, Her Maj seems to have given a lot of herself to her role. I couldn't find it in my heart to be anything other than happy for her. The image of a woman in her late 80's, full enthusiasm and energy about one of her life long interests, is life affirming. Horses are a passion for her and I'm not sure she can be so different from the rest of us, in needing distractions and pleasure from the pressures of work and family life.

It was great to see the Queen so happy and spontaneous with her win and good on her! She spends a lot of time even at her age working for the country,and why not enjoy her obvious passion for horses and racing.

Well said bluebell.I find the whole thing quite sickening.

I'm sure the people employed in training the Queen's horses would laugh at your comment, bluebell. Would you rather they claimed benefits?

Rich old woman with more money to spend on a bloody horse than most of her subjects earn in years - disgusting!!!

Great pictures - I thought her Racing Manager was going to kiss her

Lovely pictures of the Queen enjoying her success.She is probably concerned about Phillip, so it was a great distraction for her. Agree about her outfit, what a hat!

It was a lovely to see the unreserved joy on The Queen's face as she received The Gold Cup. I thought her hat was beautiful loved the floral detail.

I just love the hats

Estimate was home bred as well, which made it even more special. I don't think I've ever seen The Queen look so happy and I was screaming the horse home as if I'd backed it.