Tears flowed and emotions were high on day one at Horse of the Year Show as First Receiver – bred and previously owned by the late Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II – won a prestigious showing championship, making it an incredible fairy tale ending to Her Majesty’s legacy.
The five-year-old, ridden by Katie Jerram-Hunnable, landed the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse of the Year Championship at the NEC, Birmingham. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, First Receiver won just shy of £20,000 during his racing career on the flat.
He made a successful transition to the showing arena, claiming five victories from seven outings this year, including qualifying for Horse of the Year Show at Burghley Horse Trials just four days before the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
Now owned by His Majesty The King, First Receiver will go forward to Sunday evening’s Supreme Products Supreme Horse of the Year Championship with other major class winners following five days of competition.
The Queen’s other horse Barbers Shop was a previous Reserve Champion in the SEIB Racehorse to Riding Horse Championship, an event that was first contested at Horse of the Year Show in 2006.
Essex-based Katie could not conceal her emotions after judges Richard Ramsay and Magnus Nicholson made their decision.
“I was so upset, like the whole country and the world after losing Her Majesty. It was the worst thing that could ever possibly happen,” Katie said.
“Her passion for her horses, her home-breds – I am riding five of them here this week – and when I first rode for her 20 years ago, she said then that she wanted to win at Horse of the Year Show, and now I’ve finally done it. I was terrified with the anticipation of it all. I really just wanted to finish the job properly, and I made it.
“He was out of training 18 months ago, and he was quite a tricky little number, but we took our time with him. I really wanted to get him here, and when he won Burghley The Queen was told he would be going to the Horse of the Year Show. He was the last show horse winner that she had. This means so much, and The King is my next port of call.”
ENDS
Image credit: Julian Portch
For more information on Horse of the Year Show 2022, please contact Horse of the Year Show Press Office, Grandstand Media Ltd. Tel: 02476 858205. Email: press@hoys.co.uk
