On this fall day, the weather graced the crowd of thousands at Ascot with one final taste of summer. The awards ceremony took place at Ascot in the presence of Louis Romanet, Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, and Ingmar de Vos, Chairman of the International Equestrian Federation.

Juan-Carlos Capelli, Vice President and International Marketing Director of Longines, bestowed the distinction on Her Majesty during the intimate ceremony.

A committed queen

Her Majesty Elizabeth II has shown a long-standing passion for horses. Her Majesty owns and breeds thoroughbreds and serves as a patron of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.

The Queen has always taken a great interest in equestrianism. She regularly attends the races in which her horses compete, as well as Britain’s classic flat racing events, such as the Epsom Derby and the Royal Meeting at Ascot, of which Longines is the Official Partner and Timekeeper.

Since the 1950s, Elizabeth II’s horses have claimed victory in more than 1,600 races, including the Longines Sagaro Stakes and the Gold Cup, both won by her filly Estimate and timed by Longines. In June of this year, the Queen’s horse Call To Mind triumphed at the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes held at Belmont Park, where Longines made its first appearance in 1881.

Juan-Carlos Capelli: “In the light of a long list of remarkable achievements, it is a great honor for Longines to present the 2018 Longines Ladies Award to Her Majesty The Queen, as a celebration of Her Majesty's passion for horses and exceptional commitment to the equine cause. This strong dedication to equestrian sports runs in the family, as we were delighted to bestow the same award on The Queen's daughter, The Princess Royal, in 2016.”

A saga of lady riders

Ingmar De Vos, Louis Romanet, and Nathalie Bélinguier, the former President of the International Federation of Gentlemen and Lady Riders (FEGENTRI), composed the jury that presided and bestowed the Longines Award.