One is still amused! The Queen is all smiles at Epsom despite failing to pick a winner as her horse comes FOURTH despite being favourite to win
- Her Majesty the Queen unveiled a statue of the legendary former jockey Lester Piggott - who retired in 1995
- She joined punters at the 240th Epsom Derby today wearing a bright cerulean blue coat and matching hat
- The Queen's horse Sextant finished fourth in the sixth race of the day at 5.15pm - after the Investec Derby
The Queen missed out on her first Epsom Derby race win today as her horse Sextant finished fourth, despite being the favourite.
Her Majesty was all smiles as she watched the jockeys compete from the Royal balcony, while dressed in a bright cerulean blue coat with a matching hat.
She was spotted in deep conversation with Julia Budd, the racecourse chairman, and was in high spirits despite the loss.
A keen horse lover, the Queen, 93, never misses either Royal Ascot or the Epsom Derby, and she watched on as her racehorse Sextant took part in the Investec Out of the Ordinary Handicap States - the sixth race of the day.
Her Majesty began her day at the races by unveiling a statue of the legendary former jockey Lester Piggott.
She arrived at today's event wearing a blue coat over a yellow dress with blue flowers - despite the fact temperatures are expected to reach up to 84F.
Wearing dark sunglasses against the dazzling sun, Her Majesty cut a relaxed figure during the prestigious Epson Derby
Queen Elizabeth II watches the racing from the royal balcony with Julia Budd, the racecourse chairman, as she attends the Epsom Derby at Epsom Racecourse
The Queen looked in high spirits as she watched the race, even though her horse Sextant lost out despite being the favourite
Her Majesty is a keen horse racing fan and looked deep in conversation with Julia Budd, the Chairman of Epsom Racecourse
Sextant made his debut appearance with a win at Ascot in May and had been the favourite to win the race at 5.15 and give the Queen her first victory
Sextant made his debut appearance with a win at Ascot in May and had been the favourite to win the race at 5.15 and give the Queen her first win.
Mr Newman told the Daily Mail: 'This year she has a real chance. Sextant was an impressive winner on his debut at Ascot in May and with only four career starts, he should do better still at Epsom.
'The Queen has Sir Michael Stoute as trainer, he has had five Epsom wins to his name, so she a good chance.
'It will be a pretty warm order given his progressive profile and I expect it to go off as a 2/1 favourite.'
Her Majesty has won 534 races from 3,205 runs over time as racehorse owner and it is thought she has made £7.7million from her hobby over the last 31 years.
Mr Newman added: 'She does it for fun, 100 percent. There has long been a royal connection with racing that I suspect the Queen enjoys continuing.
'Her genuine love of the horses is not in question — one look at her face when her horse begins a run or gets to challenge will tell you all you need to know.
'She turns up come rain or shine at both the Epsom Derby meeting and Royal Ascot and was said to be riding at the age of 6 before inheriting horses when her father (King George VI) passed away in 1952.'
Ms Budd appeared to have struck up a friendship with Her Majesty and they were pictured in conversation throughout today's event
Emotional: The monarch cannot hide her disappointment when a horse she was backing fails to win the race. Up until the late 1960s Queen Elizabeth raced her own-bred stock as well as horses bred by the National Stud. Her registered racing colours (termed silks), worn by the jockeys riding her race horses, are the same as those used by her father and great-grandfather, King Edward VII; a purple and scarlet jacket with gold braiding, with black cap
As the Queen's afternoon at the races wore on she removed her coat to enjoy temperatures of up to 84F. She looks in high spirits as she enjoys the races from the royal balcony. Her horse Sextant will be racing at 5.15pm
Exchanging tips: Though she has her racing manager John Warren to turn to for help with picking winning thoroughbreds the Queen has been involved in racing since her 20s and has built up a vast amount of knowledge about breeding racing horses
Racing manager John Warren watches the racing with the Queen from the royal balcony. After Sextant won during its debut race in Ascot last month she is hopeful it might secure her first Epsom Derby win
The Queen's horse is named after an instrument used for measuring the angular distances between objects and especially for taking altitudes in navigation and surveying. Sextant will race for a mile and four furlongs after the Invectus Derby race
Her Majesty began her day at the races by unveiling a statue of the legendary former jockey Lester Piggott. He retired in 1995 with 4,493 career wins.
Serious business: The Epsom Derby is a flat race open to three-year old colts and fillies who run one mile, four furlongs and six yards at the Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey on the first Saturday of June each year
A keen horse lover, the Queen never misses either Royal Ascot or the Epsom Derby, and will be watching her racehorse Sextant take part in the Investec Out of the Ordinary Handicap States - the sixth race of the day
As the races continue the Queen points out a horse, presumably to ask her racing managers opinion on its likelihood of success. Director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Mr Warren has been working with horses for the last 20 years. Founding his company in 1992 he is responsible for buying yearlings - a year-old race horse
Having a look at the race guide the Queen looks thrilled to be watching the racing. Her love of the sport was awarded in 2014 when she was presented with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to the sport
Her Majesty has won 534 races from 3,205 runs over time as racehorse owner and it is thought she has made £7.7million from her hobby over the last 31 years. Pictured, the Queen is greeted as she arrives
She arrived at today's event wearing a blue coat over a yellow dress with blue flowers - despite the fact temperatures are expected to reach up to 84F
Sextant made his debut appearance with a win at Ascot in May and the Queen will be hoping for another today. The Queen's horses have never previously won at the Epsom Derby
Piggott started racing horses from his father's stable when he was ten years old and won his first race in 1948, aged 12 years, on a horse called 'The Chase' at Haydock Park. Piggott is known for his quiet demeanour. He describes his mother as wisely downplaying his success, while his father rarely gave advice unless there had been a particular mistake
The Queen looks lovely as always.
by Tilly91 867