Platinum Jubilee weekend: what is racing doing to celebrate?

During a special extended bank holiday weekend from Thursday to Sunday racing will be marking the Queen's Platinum Jubilee at courses across Britain. Here is a guide to what is taking place over the four days of celebrations.

Thursday

The four-day bank holiday kicks off with the Trooping the Colour, in which more than 1,400 soldiers and horses will parade to celebrate the Queen's official birthday. The march is followed by a gun salute as the Queen watches on from Buckingham Palace balcony.

In the racing world, Redcar stages the Zetland Gold Cup and will mark the Platinum Jubilee with free entertainment for kids, including a Prince and Princess School, where children learn how to be royalty.

The milestone is also being marked with a funfair and face painting at Uttoxeter, an afternoon tea package at Hamilton, a family fun day at Leicester and a live performance by the Kaiser Chiefs at Ffos Las.

At Chelmsford, 96 new mature trees will be planted around the track in support of the Queen's Green Canopy initiative, which invites people from across the UK to plant a tree to mark the Jubilee.

A spokesperson from the track said: "We're proud to be a part of the Green Canopy initiative, especially as the Queen planted a tree on our site in 1978 when she visited the County Show at the Essex County Showground, before the construction of the racecourse."

Friday

St Paul's Cathedral will host a thanksgiving service in honour of the Queen's 70 years on the throne and the celebrations step up a gear in racing with the beginning of the Cazoo Derby festival at Epsom.

During its sold-out launch party the track will join many sites across the UK in lighting a beacon to mark the anniversary and will rename the Queen's Stand the Queen Elizabeth II Stand. There will be a Jubilee sing-along with a contemporary choir and activities for children in the Jubilee Family Enclosure on the Hill.

There will also be a showcase on the Hill on Friday and Saturday to highlight the care that is shown to racehorses throughout their lives and how the sport is engaging and inspiring young people to look to racing as a career. Organisations such as the British Racing School, the Injured Jockeys Fund and Racing Welfare are represented.

Phil White, regional director at the Jockey Club, said: "We're all incredibly excited this year's Cazoo Derby is able to take place in front of the proper crowd it deserves for the first time since 2019.

"It's also fantastic it's part of the central weekend of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and we have big plans to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen. It's a genuine once in a lifetime occasion to enjoy and we can't wait for the whole of Epsom to get into the party spirit."

At Huntingdon and Market Rasen, there will be a party atmosphere with several Jubilee-themed events, including a crown workshop, while Bath caps its evening meeting with popular Indie band James.

The Queen: is not expected to be in attendance on Derby dayCredit: Charlie Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Saturday

The Platinum Party at the Palace, which takes place at Buckingham Palace, will be broadcast by the BBC and feature performances from Sir Elton John, Sir Rod Stewart and the cast of hit musical Hamilton.

Although the Queen is not expected to attend Derby day, there will be a guard of honour of 40 of the leading owner's retired and current jockeys, including Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and John Reid.

Retraining of Racehorses has also arranged for a number of the monarch's retired horses to parade, including Barbers Shop, who placed in the King George VI Chase, First Receiver and Quadrille. There will also be souvenir racecards for the two-day meeting.

The Queen is expected to be represented by the Princess Royal and, following her arrival, there will be a playing of the national anthem, an air display from the Red Devils and a military band performance.

Chepstow marks the Jubilee following its evening card with an after-racing performance by Radio 1 DJ Chris Stark, while racegoers at Lingfield can celebrate the Queen's reign in the company of McFly.

There is no racing at Newbury but the track will welcome people to watch Epsom on the big screen and relax in a pop-up beer garden.

Sunday

More than 60,000 people have registered to host street parties all over the UK on the final day of the Platinum Jubilee weekend, while a three-kilometre carnival with weave its way through London.

There are three British meetings, including at Goodwood, which will have free fairground rides and live music, and racegoers will be encouraged to enjoy a cup of tea and slice of cake along a tree-lined concourse, which will be adorned with bunting and festoon lighting.

Jon Barnett, Goodwood's racecourse director, said: "During the last 70 years, the Queen has enjoyed much success at Goodwood, twice winning the flagship Goodwood Cup and most recently the March Stakes and Golden Mile.

"We're delighted to be celebrating her illustrious reign at our family raceday on Sunday. The concourse will reflect a street party atmosphere with bunting lining its entirety.

"Racegoers have been invited to join us for complimentary tea and cake on course, and we have encouraged everyone to don their best red, white and blue outfits for this momentous occasion."

The Queen's Jubilee runners

The Queen does not have a horse in the Cazoo Derby on Saturday but she is still set to have several runners up and down the country.

Her colours will be carried by Just Fine in the World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap (5.15), who will no doubt be cheered on by many in the packed crowd at Epsom. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Just Fine was third on his comeback at the Dante meeting at York last month and has been targeted at this 1m2f contest ever since.

Loudspeaker also carries the famous royal colours in the Doncaster Racecourse Celebrating The Platinum Jubilee Handicap (3.06). He finished second at Salisbury last month for trainer Michael Bell.

The Queen could also be represented by Steal A March, who holds two entries at Worcester, and Chancery Lane, a newcomer who lines up in the 7f novice stakes at Chepstow for Harry and Roger Charlton.

Read these next:

Cazoo Derby day at Epsom sold out after 'phenomenal' ticket demand

Lester Piggott to create more Epsom history with plan to run Derby in his honour

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.