The Queen and the Turf

Celebrating a royal passion for horses and racing. Perfect for readers of Hugo Vickers, James Pope-Hennessey, Philp Ziegler and Christopher Warwick. 'Refreshing, uninhibited and sincere ... a book anyone could enjoy' - The Scotsman'Very revealing ... the book is unique' - The People Here is the first full story of the Queen's racing enthusiasms and the first authentic account of Her Majesty's personal experience as a racehorse owner and racegoer, told with the help of trainers, jockeys and others. This exhilarating volume traces the early years of the Queen's racing story, from childhood horse-lover to ebullient racegoer and owner of one of the finest string of racehorses in the world. Helen Cathcart goes behind the scenes to present a vivid picture of royal racing success and failures, from the Queen's frail gift-horse to the spectacular triumphs of Aureole, Carrozza, Alexander, High Veldt, Almeria, Doutelle, Pall Mall and many others. Winners of lustrous fame, they come thundering on in a cavalcade of high hopes and disappointments, superb victories, and bitter defeat. Here is a royal pageant of the Turf rich in some of the most colourful and interesting sporting stories from the younger Queen's reign. Praise for Helen Cathcart: 'Wide acclaim as a royal biographer ... objective, uninhibited and penetrating' - Sunday Express'Helen Cathcart writes about royalty as if she were one of them' - The Daily Mail'The doyenne of royal biographers' - The Daily Telegraph'A tireless chronicler of royalty' - The Guardian