Gai Waterhouse, Chris Waller and Peter V’landys have remembered their moments with Queen Elizabeth II, which passed in a flash but touched their lives forever, following her death on Friday.
The Queen’s duty was to her subjects and the Commonwealth, but it was her horses and racing which held her passion.
“She loved her racing, and it was the one thing that was personal to her,” Waterhouse said. “She knew her horses and would give you information as a trainer. She knew racing intimately.
“She could converse with anyone and make them feel at ease. An amazing woman.”
The first engagements pencilled into her annual schedule would be the five days of Royal Ascot and Derby day at Epsom, where she would hope to be a winner as an owner, but she was there as a fan of the thoroughbred.
It allowed racing to carry the Royal stamp in England, and for racing people to be let inside the inner sanctum of perhaps the most famous person in the world.
Black Caviar trainer Peter Moody meets the Queen at Royal Ascot in 2012.Credit:Julian Andrews
Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier had the honour of meeting the Queen on several occasions from a young age including accepting the Diamond Jubilee trophy from her after Merchant Navy won Royal Ascot’s signature sprint in 2018.
“Racing was her hobby and her life and escape. I can remember her coming to Coolmore and always asking questions when I was young,” Magnier said. “She was racing’s greatest ambassador and supporter. People over here [Australia] don’t realise that.”
However, it was the people within the sport that the Queen loved the most and extended the offer of an audience regularly. She sought out the best people in racing and loved the greats of the turf, making a special trip to see Black Caviar into the yard after her Diamond Jubilee victory in 2012.
“It was a proud moment to have her look at my horse, but I don’t remember much about it,” Peter Moody said. “I wish I did, but I know it happened but I was just so relieved after she won. I know she was impressed.”
The Queen requested a private audience with Black Caviar when the unbeaten mare went to Royal Ascot in 2012. Credit:Getty
While she only raced a few horses in Australia, trained by Waterhouse, David Hayes and Waller, who still has Chalk Stream in his stable, it was with fondness they remembered the nervousness of scheduled calls with the palace.
Winx would bring Waller to the Queen’s attention and the monarch even made an impassioned plea for the great mare to go to England. She didn’t but at the completion of the four-time Cox Plate winner’s career, Waller and wife Stephanie were guests of Her Majesty for lunch during Royal Ascot and gave her a shoe from Winx’s final win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“She walked into the room and she had this presence and almost a glow. With that glow she had humility,” Waller said. “She was just such a warm loving person.
“When you speak of her you use different words because she was just that sort of special person.
The Queen’s horse Arabian Story was beaten in the Melbourne Cup by Might and Power. Credit:Vince Caligiuri
“She was a curious person, who had so much time for you and so much time for the world.
“She made you feel so comfortable. She would speak so directly to you but wanted to hear your answers.”
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys had the same honour this year, and described sitting next to the Queen for lunch as surreal.
“I tried my hardest to be normal. An hour and a half felt like five minutes,” V’landys said.
The Queen and Prince Philip at the 1963 Melbourne Cup.Credit:Age Archives
Racing will remember Queen Elizabeth II across the weekend with jockeys to don black armbands and tributes of a minute’s silence and flags at half-mast at Rosehill and Flemington on Saturday.
The Australian Turf Club has the honour of Royal Randwick being only the racecourse in the world to have the Royal tag all year. The course down the road from Windsor Castle is only known as Royal Ascot for the five days of the Royal meeting in June.
“We join with people in racing and around the world in honouring and thanking Her Majesty for her unfailing service and remarkable life,” ATC chairman Peter McGauran said.
“The Australian Turf Club and in particular Royal Randwick is inextricably linked with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her love of the thoroughbred and racing.”
Victoria Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson noted the Queen had Arabian Story run sixth in the 1997 Melbourne Cup in his tribute.
“The VRC has joined the rest of the world in mourning the loss of Her Majesty who was a much-loved and respected leader and a lifelong supporter of horse racing,” Neil Wilson said.
“The Queen has left an extraordinary legacy and her contribution and support for our industry has always been greatly appreciated. She will remain in our hearts forever.”
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