|
UK
Casino Times
> Casino
Articles
18 February
2006
The Sport Of Kings - Royals &
Racing
The
British royal family have long been associated with a sport
dear to the heart of many punters and online casino fans:
racing. Here we examine the relationship between horses,
bets, and kings and queens.
The blossoming of horse
racing under royal patronage in this country dates back at
least as far as Charles I and his son Charles II, the two
reigns separated by the austere years of Cromwell's
puritanical Commonwealth.
Charles I is thought
actually to have raced as a jockey himself, under a
pseudonym. He was the first to recognise the importance of
breeding, and introduced the distribution of trophies for
categories such as Best Bred Horse to reward the quality and
effort of their work.
After Cromwell's
departure, the country saw a great blossoming of arts and
culture and leisure activities, many of which had been
banned under the Commonwealth.
Charles II reinstated
racing, "the sport of kings", abolishing the ban set on the
sport at the beginning of the Restoration period in 1660. He
also initiated the wear of silks as racing attire. Betting
on horses, however, was officially illegal up until 1691,
much later in his reign.
At Queen Anne's command in
the early 18th Century, the racecourse at Royal Ascot was
built near Windsor Castle on a site she declared to be the
perfect location for the horses to run free.
After Anne's death,
however, interest in racing dropped considerably until
George III came to the throne. Suddenly racing became all
the rage for people of higher social classes. Later in the
19th Century, during the Victorian era, middle-class, the
working class and women became more a part of the mainstream
racing culture of the day.
The story is told of Queen
Victoria, niece of William IV, that as a young girl she won
a bet with her uncle. The prize was said to be a horse. It
was Queen Victoria's son, King Edward VII the Prince of
Wales, who set the trend for the annual Royal week at Ascot,
which continues so successfully to this day.
Racing is viewed by the
Royals as a sport of entertainment and relaxation. It has
frequently been said that the Queen Mother used to enjoy a
gamble on the horses, although these claims have more than
once been rejected by the Queen's racing manager and by her
niece Margaret Rhodes, who both say that the Queen Mother
had "never had a bet". Perhaps someone else put them on for
her.
Certainly there is
extensive footage of the Queen Mother and her reigning
daughter watching the races together and getting caught up
in the excitement of the moment.
Whether it's for the
ladies' fashions, the races, the horses or the betting, this
week every year, thousands of people flock to Royal Ascot to
experience the vibe live, to place bets and to socialise.
The fact that the event has royal support gives it a certain
glamour and kudos that nothing else can supply.
Today the Queen owns and
breeds several race-horses and has an especial interest in
the yearly races at Ascot. You may not catch her queuing up
at the bookmakers to place a bet but then again, as a
significant owner in her own right, you could argue she's
taking the biggest punt of all.
Copyright notice: this
article is copyright protected. It may not be reproduced or
published in any form, in part or its entirety, without
express prior permission from casinotimes.co.uk. Any breach
of this copyright may result in legal proceedings. If you
find this content published on any website other than
casinotimes.co.uk please e-mail us at info@casinotimes.co.uk
detailing the exact location (webpage) URL where you found
the copied material.
William Hill Casino, the
UK's no. 1 online casino, are giving away a nifty £50
free to all new players plus a further £25 free every
month you play in the future. You can even collect your
winnings down the local William Hill shop!
Click
Here To Visit William Hill Casino
Return
to Articles index
Also see:
UK
Online Casinos
Reviews of the leading, approved UK online casinos. Includes
details of the free money welcome bonuses offered to new
players by the online casinos.
Online
Casinos Guide
New to online casinos? We take you through the process in a
friendly, easy-going way.
CasinoTimes.co.uk
is updated every day with the latest online casino and
gambling news.
Click
Here
to bookmark us and check us out daily!
|
