【每日电讯报】Queen enters six horses for the first time at Royal Ascot

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Queen enters six horses for the first time at Royal Ascot
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/5551760/Queen-enters-six-horses-for-the-first-time-at-Royal-Ascot.html

By Andrew Pierce Published: 4:57PM BST 16 Jun 2009


Queen Elizabeth accompanied by Duke of Edinburgh, as they drive along the course at the Royal Ascot horse race meeting. Photo: EPA

The Queen will be hoping for success at Royal Ascot this year having entered six horses a record for modern times.

They include Free Agent who triumphed on the final day last year who is in Thursday's King George V Stakes and the King Edward VII Stakes on Friday.

A flurry of bets from staff at Buckingham Palace has gone on the Queen's horse Four Winds in the Hampton Court Stakes on Thursday. The Queen's first horse runs today with Instalment in the Jersey Stakes. The Monarch is known to put wagers on her own horses.

Around 300,000 people will throng the Berkshire racecourse for the meeting which is one of the highlights of the sporting and social calendar. Celebrities will mingle with members of the Royal Family, captains of industry, and politicians at one of the most famous race meetings in the world.

The winner of the first race, the Queen Anne Stakes, received their trophy from the Duchess of Cornwall. It was the first time she had presented a prize at Royal Ascot. The Duchess, in an elegant ice green silk dress and champagne coloured coat, was wearing an outfit for the first time by Vivienne Westwood. The hat was by Philip Treacy.

The Royal Family arrived in their traditional carriage procession with the Queen dressed in a golden yellow and white silk dress by Stuart Parvin, a matching linen jacket, and hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan. She sat next to the Duke of Edinburgh and opposite the Duke of York and Lord Vestey. They were followed by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Beatrice and Christopher Rhys-Jones, the father of the Countess of Wessex.

the bookmakers are taking bets not just on the horses from the Royal Studs but also on the colour of the Queen's hat for Ladies' Day, with yellow the favourite at 4/1.

In the Royal Enclosure, a strict dress code must be observed. Women must wear a hat or "substantial fascinator". Off the shoulder and halter neck dresses, dresses with a strap of less than one inch and miniskirts are all banned. Midriffs must be covered up and trouser suits should be full length and of matching material and colour. Men must wear morning dress with a waistcoat and top hat.

Racing at Ascot dates from 1711 when Queen Anne drove from nearby Windsor Castle with her entourage for a day's sport organised at her command.