Main prepares to sing national anthem as Newbury pays tribute to the Queen

As the world awaits the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Newbury is an extremely appropriate place to celebrate racing's staunchest ally.

It is often said the first six dates that went into the Queen's diary each year were Derby day at Epsom and the five afternoons of Royal Ascot. Yet just as those who attended Epsom and Ascot could feel sure of seeing the sport's most revered figure, much the same was true for anyone who visited Newbury during the spring meeting.

The Queen would be there in a private capacity, not as the monarch but as a devoted racehorse owner and breeder. Principally, however, she repeatedly returned to Newbury as someone who simply adored racing, as was obvious the last time she graced the track with her presence.

On Greenham day, April 13, 2019, the Queen chose not to make use of the royal box. Instead, she spent the majority of her time looking at thoroughbreds in the paddock. It was the place you most often saw the Queen at Newbury.

The Queen in the Newbury parade ring on her last visit to the trackCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

That particular afternoon she returned home without a winner, albeit she came close, for Pianissimo finished second under Frankie Dettori in the race that had been traditionally known as the Spring Maiden Stakes. Another of her horses, Space Walk, took fourth in the same contest, so there was much for the Queen to digest.

While that was not a winning trip to Newbury, one of her favourite racecourses was a place where plenty of silverware was secured. In total, her colours were carried to victory on 77 occasions, beginning with Doutelle in the 1958 John Porter Stakes. The Queen's most recent Newbury winner was the William Haggas-trained Perfect Alibi, successful in a fillies' handicap under Tom Marquand on July 15 this year.

Pall Mall triumphed in the first two runnings of the Lockinge Stakes for the Queen, while the Geoffrey Freer Stakes and St Simon Stakes were also claimed by royal representatives. Her association with Newbury was a constant through a record-breaking reign that will be remembered on Saturday, when local trainer and opera singer Heather Main is set to perform the national anthem shortly before the opening race.

"It will be the first time I've ever sung the anthem in public and I've been rehearsing at home as this needs to be done right," said Main, now based in Wantage but originally from Alabama.

"There were many times when I had runners in the same race as the Queen and I have some very special memories of standing close to her in the paddock at Newbury.

"You could see how closely she was studying the runners and it was obvious how much knowledge she had. I'm not without nerves but this is going to be such a great honour."

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