Queen’s Racehorse Tests Positive For Banned Substance
Could you ever imagine that a racehorse which is owned by the Queen herself has been tested positive for a banned substance?
Well, it’s a reality.
The winning horse of last year’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot which is owned by the Queen, has now tested positive for a banned substance.
On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace announced that Estimate, which is the racehorse that won the Gold Cup last year at the Royal Ascot, has tested positive for morphine.
According to the palace, this occurred as a result of the racehorse consuming contaminated food.
It is important to note that racehorses are entitled to receive morphine as a form of medication but this cannot be administered on race days.
Despite this black mark against the five-year old filly, Estimate’s win at last year’s Royal Ascot helped to make the Queen the first reigning monarch to win a Gold Cup.
As the owner of the winning horse, the Queen won £155,960 in prize money.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Estimate came in at second place at this year’s Royal Ascot with Leading Light taking first place.
According to John Warren who is the Queen’s Bloodstock and Racing Advisor, the Queen was notified of this irregularity after the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) made a public announcement of the matter last Thursday.
Warren also stated that five other horses had also been affected and that Sir Michael is working closely with the feed company in order to establish at what point the food was contaminated.
No further comments will be made by the BHA until their investigation is complete.
