BH 100: The Royal Treatment
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Photo: BloodHorse Library
In the winner's circle after Sintra's score in the first Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup
This feature originally appeared in the October 15, 2016 issue of BloodHorse.
As the 80th fall meet of Keeneland Race Course got underway Oct. 7, we recall an Indian Summer weekend 32 years ago when Queen Elizabeth II came to visit Kentucky, spending a magical afternoon at the track.
Accompanied by her stud manager Michael Oswald, racing manager Lord Porchester, and press secretary Michael Shea, the Queen traveled to Kentucky where she stayed Oct. 8-12 as the guest of William and Sarah Farish at their Lane’s End Farm near Versailles. While in the area she also visited Darby Dan Farm, Gainesway Farm, Mill Ridge Farm, Spendthrift Farm, and Claiborne Farm.
Her day at the races was highlighted by the first running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, now a grade I event for 3-year-old fillies that ran Oct. 15 for the 33rd time. The winner of the inaugural was Cherry Valley Farm’s (owned by Claiborne Farm’s Seth Hancock) Sintra, trained by Steve Penrod and ridden by Keith Allen.
Of her day at Keeneland, The Blood-Horse’s editor Kent Hollingsworth wrote in his “What’s Going On Here” column: “Just splendid, a better day of and for racing could not be imagined than that which Keeneland produced on Oct. 11 for the Queen of England.
“It was an occasion, Queen Elizabeth II’s first visit to a racecourse in the United States, and Keeneland, the crowd, and even the weather rose to the occasion with a sunny day.
“Keeneland spent some $3 million this summer renovating the rear of its grandstand to permit viewing of the most attractive new saddling enclosure in the country.
“Fall rains and frost had turned the grass green, leaves yellow and red, nature’s colors augmenting the architectural design of stone and glass unique among American tracks.
“A large Thursday crowd of 12,666 dressed in Sunday-best for the occasion. (Before Tea, Milne’s Emmeline said, ‘Sillies, I went and saw the Queen. She says my hands are perfickly clean!”)
“Crowds at American sporting events can run amuck, as after the World Series, or after the Kansas—Kansas State football game; in stark contrast, the Keeneland racing crowd was a model of decorum, politely subdued and respectful as the Queen stood in the saddling enclosure.
“After the first running of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, everyone in the stands rose and stood quietly for some 10 minutes, while the Queen descended from the Lexington Room atop the grandstand and walked through the tunnel to the track, then applauded as the Queen presented trophies and congratulations to the winning owners, trainer, and rider.
“The dignity with which Keeneland president Ted Bassett escorted the Queen, the beauty of the grounds, the manners of the crowd, the graciousness of the Queen, made this occasion one of which all persons associated with racing could be proud.”
While it would be her only visit to Keeneland, the Queen’s love of the Thoroughbred and the search to find the proper mates for her broodmares found her making many visits to the Lexington area, returning in 1986, 1989, and in 1991 where she toured Thoroughbred farms and looked at stallions.
In 1989 it was reported “The American breeding effort is designed ‘to obtain class speed, to jazz up the stud a little bit,’ ” Lord Carnarvon said. “The Queen’s old families are staying families, and now the financial emphasis in racing has gone heavily into the 1 1/4-mile business. The races of 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/2 miles are the most valuable.”
She also came to Kentucky in 2007 and visited the state’s other racing attraction and signature race…run at 1 1/4 miles: the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).