The Queen’s Carlton House was third in last year’s Derby

In a fitting tribute to the Queen’s long-standing love of the Turf, this year’s Jubilee celebrations will get underway at Epsom Downs racecourse on Saturday, June 2 with the running of the renamed Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup, which is to be moved from its traditional Friday slot to Derby Day.

Just three days after her Coronation, the Queen attended the 1953 Derby, in which her colt Aureole finished second to Pinza. Last year, Carlton House started favourite to give Her Majesty a longed-for victory in the Classic, but he could manage only third behind Pour Moi and Treasure Beach.

The Queen is expected to be in attendance at Epsom on Derby Day, the second of a two-day meeting sponsored by Investec and featuring both the Derby and the Oaks alongside the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup.

Rupert Trevelyan, Managing Director of Epsom, said:  “We are delighted to announce the name change and movement of the Coronation Cup to Investec Derby Day, in recognition of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee year.

“We are proud to acknowledge the longevity of support and enthusiasm Her Majesty has demonstrated to Epsom over the last sixty years and look forward to a spectacular day in June for the whole nation to enjoy.”