Aidan O'Brien: 'She was a special person with an incredible interest in horses'

Aidan O'Brien has paid a heartfelt tribute to the Queen's deep passion and affection for horses, describing her death as a significant loss to the world of racing.

One of the most successful trainers in the sport's history, O'Brien developed a relationship with the Queen during his early visits to Royal Ascot, a meeting where he has recorded 81 winners.

The Ballydoyle trainer has particularly fond memories of spending time with the United Kingdom's longest-serving monarch during a visit to Tipperary to see Coolmore's elite stallions.

O'Brien said: "She was a very special person. Incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, in many ways she reminded me of Mrs Evie Stockwell [mother of Coolmore boss John Magnier].

"We first got to know her after some of our horses won at Royal Ascot, and we were lucky enough to later spend time in her company both around racing and in private.

Aidan O'Brien: 'It was very special to have her see all the stallions at Coolmore'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"It was very special to have her see all the stallions at Coolmore. She was extremely inquisitive and wanted to know all about each horse's individual idiosyncrasies. Their temperament, their movement, their personalities, what they were like to train – she wanted to know everything. Her interest was incredible."

O'Brien added: "I found it fascinating listening to all her observations and ways of thinking, and one thing I found especially interesting was how she looked at a horse.

"When introduced to a horse, everyone generally watches the way they walk, looking how they move, but that was never the first thing she did. She would instead let them walk by and just listen to the sound of their walk.

"She wanted to hear their motion before she saw them move. It was a very unusual thing but I thought it showed what a special understanding she had for horses."

O'Brien expressed his admiration for the Queen's enthusiasm to maintain a close link with her horses into her final years.

"It was incredible to see her still riding her own ponies in the later stages of her life," said O'Brien. "It tells you the bond she had with them, and the enjoyment she got out of them."

O'Brien added: "She had a gift in how she was able to put people at ease straight away when meeting them. Everybody took to her very naturally because of her personality. She will be a big loss to everyone, including the world of racing.

"We would like to offer our sincere condolences to King Charles, Camilla, the Queen Consort, Princess Anne and all her extended family."

Johnny Murtagh: 'She was a wonderful person and I always enjoyed meeting her'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Champion jockey turned Group 1-winning trainer Johnny Murtagh said the racing community has "lost a huge supporter".

"She was a wonderful person and I always enjoyed meeting her," said Murtagh.

"It was always very easy to talk to her any time I met her as she just wanted to know how the horses ran and what the race was like. She was very knowledgeable and so passionate about racing. It’s very sad but she lived a wonderful life."

In Tuesday's Racing Post