The Queen's favourite hobby won her almost half a million pounds this year

Queen Elizabeth II attends day 3 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Home Park
(Image credit: Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

The Queen's horses have reportedly won her a considerable sum in 2021 and there’s still time for this staggering amount to increase before the end of the year.

The Queen is well-known for her love of horses and it seems her own racehorses have been having a spectacularly successful year. Her Majesty is a keen horse rider and watcher of horse races and many other members of The Firm share her passion for these beautiful animals. This includes the Queen’s great-grandchildren, Prince George, Charlotte and Louis, who have reportedly been learning to ride ponies as a new hobby. Returning to in-person events after the pandemic, Her Majesty has been beaming at recent engagements and was glimpsed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this summer. 

Now it’s been reported that the Queen’s racehorses have done exceptionally well in 2021 and that she enjoys watching their victories. According to The Mirror, they have won 32 races so far this year and their success means that it’s thought the Queen has received a huge £460,000 in prize money.

Queen Elizabeth II pats her horse 'Balmoral Erica' after it came second in the Ridden Mountain and Moorland Class on day 4 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Home Park on May 17, 2014

The most recent win came on Monday September 13 when her horse Fresh Fancy is understood to have raced its way to victory at Kempton Park. The Sun has suggested that the Queen cheered on her horse from Balmoral where she is currently on her annual summer break. 

The publication reported that an insider claimed, “The Queen rarely misses a race in which one of her horses is racing and has a television so she can catch the drama. It would have no doubt cheered her up with everything that is going on.”

The Queen was left devastated earlier this year by the passing of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip. Whilst her grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Oprah Winfrey interview revelations left fans stunned and rumors of a “rift” between the Sussexes and the Royal Family have continued to circulate.

As she no doubt reflects on these recent events with huge sadness, the success of her horses perhaps gives her moments of joy. 

Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her Stud Groom Terry Pendry, seen horse riding in the grounds of Windsor Castle on June 2, 2006

Next year the monarch will mark her 70th year on the throne and an extra bank holiday for the Platinum Jubilee has already been announced in the UK. 

As part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations the Queen will attend the prestigious Epsom Derby. This is said to be the one major race she has yet to win and hopes are reportedly high for her colt, Reach For The Moon, in 2022.

And as the autumn arrives and with three months to go before the end of the year, there's still time for the Queen's horses to even even more victories before then. 

Emma Shacklock
Senior Lifestyle Writer

Emma is a Senior Lifestyle Writer with six years of experience working in digital publishing, ranging from book publishing to magazines. She currently looks after all things Lifestyle for Woman&Home, Goodto.com, and My Imperfect Life.