
A right, royal day at the races —
A fan of horse racing from a young age, then-Princess Elizabeth is seen walking through the paddock at the Epsom Downs racecourse during the derby on May 27, 1950. An appearance at Epsom Derby would be her first official engagement as queen several years later.

A right, royal day at the races —
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh with members of the royal family including the late Queen Mother, at the Epsom Derby on June 2, 1977.

queen stud manager —
Queen Elizabeth II seen here with stud manager Sir Michael Oswald, watching the Derby in 1980. One of the queen's trainers, Andrew Balding says: "She is a very well informed and keen owner, probably the best-informed owner in the country."

A right, royal day at the races —
Despite being one of the UK's best-known owners and breeders of racehorses, with around 30 horses currently in training, the queen has yet to claim victory at the Epsom Derby.

A right, royal day at the races —
Her Majesty pictured with race goers during the Ever Ready Derby at Epsom racecourse in Epsom, England. It is said in racing circles that the British sovereign's reading material of choice over her breakfast is the Racing Post.

A right, royal day at the races —
Perhaps her best chance to capture the Derby came last year with Carlton House. The red-hot favorite to win but bad luck in running and the loss of a shoe relegated the queen's runner to third.