Racing will join the rest of Britain and much of the Commonwealth on September 19 as a stopover for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
Four scheduled meetings were canceled by the BHA shortly after the date of the funeral was announced, while the schedule of entries and statements were revised so that Monday would officially be an empty day for the sport. in the UK.
There will be no Greyhound meetings in the UK, while major retail chains such as Ladbrokes, Coral, Paddy Power, William Hill and Betfred, will all close as a sign of respect.
Two meetings will take place in Ireland, with matches at Listowel on the dance floor and Fairyhouse on the flats.
Racing is a regular passion for the Queen and sport’s governing body in the UK has moved quickly to ensure participants will be able to spend the day following the events in London and Windsor.
At 10:44 a.m. GMT, the Queen’s casket will be taken by gun carriage on the short journey from Westminster Hall, where it has been since Wednesday, to Westminster Abbey, the site of a state funeral. will start at 11am.
About 2,000 mourners will attend the funeral, led by King Charles III and members of the royal family, and a number of foreign heads of state as well as political and spiritual representatives from religious countries. religion.
HM Queen with Frankie Dettori at Newbury
The Queen’s race manager, John Warren, will join the guild, while a number of other world racing figures are also expected to attend.
Chris Waller was originally among the invited special guests as part of an Australian delegation led by the country’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, but the New Zealand-born coach had to withdraw after an exposure nearly tested positive for COVID-19.
Australian training giant Gai Waterhouse will attend, after receiving an invitation on behalf of the royal family from Lord Chamberlain, Baron Parker of Minsmere.
When the service ends, a person playing the final song will mark the start of two minutes of silence observed across the country, followed by the convent’s national anthem.
The Queen’s coffin will then be carried to the Wellington Arch, her gun carriage towed by a team of 98 Royal Navy sailors. From there it will travel by royal hearse to Windsor, where at 3:10pm it will join a procession for the final journey up the Long Road to the castle and then to the steps of the House St George’s Prayer.
At 4 p.m., the pledge ceremony will begin in the chapel, the final televised main part of the day’s proceedings.
The BHA has scheduled six additional meetings from September 21 to October 9 to make up for lost races immediately following the announcement of the Queen’s death as well as four meetings to be held on the day of mourning. ceremony.
Each will be a six-race card with the possibility of being dealt to run eight if required.
