Trainer Heather Main to sing national anthem at Newbury

One of racing’s own, trainer Heather Main, will sing the national anthem before racing at Newbury on Saturday.

The former opera singer will give her rendition about ten minutes before the first race, at 1pm, after Newbury have shared a video montage of Her Majesty The Queen and held a two-minute silence following the passing of the monarch.

Newbury approached Main to sing the anthem and she didn’t hesitate to accept. Later in the day, she will also have a runner on the card in Marshal Dan.

“It was a great honour to be asked and I was very happy to accept,” Main said on Friday morning, before enjoying a winner in the evening at Kempton. “It's quite a respnsibility. I just hope I get the words right and people enjoy it.

"Her Majesty had a very special relationship with our sport as a breeder, owner and patron. It just feels like there's a huge hole in the racing community without her.

“I had runners in the same race as her on several occasions, especially at Newbury, and it was always very special standing in the parade ring being so close to her. She adored watching the horses and obviously knew so much about them.”

Main, originally from Alabama in the United States, has performed solo at the Royal Albert Hall and The Barbican in the past but these days most of her performances are reserved for her horses she trains near Wantage.

She sings to her horses in the belief it relaxes her string.

“I’ve always sung to them. It’s not a routine or a regime, just something I do from time to time,” she said. “The travelling involved with training can be manic, so it’s also for my own therapy.

“I’ve never sung the national anthem in public before so the horses have heard it a few times this week.”

Main is enjoying her best season in terms of prize-money won and will end the day by saddling Marshal Dan, one of her stable stalwarts, in the handicap that closes the card at 5.05pm.

“He's a real trooper and absolutely loves his races,” she said. “He’s tremendously consistent and the only times he’s run below par it’s been our fault as we’ve run him on the wrong ground. He’s won twice at Newbury and seems to love it there. I’m hopeful that he has a good chance.”

There will also be a tribute area for Her Majesty at the course located on the far side of the paddock, where racegoers wishing to leave a note or flowers can do so. There will also be a book of condolence located here for racegoers to sign.

The Queen was a frequent visitor to the Berkshire course, where her horses won 77 races, all bar two of them on the Flat. Her Majesty would attend the Spring Meeting in a private capacity, dates which remained unchanged in her diary for decades and she would spend her time looking at the horses in the parade ring.

Doutelle’s victory in the John Porter Stakes on April 17, 1958 provided Her Majesty with her first winner at the racecourse. The same year she won the inaugural running of the Group One Lockinge Stakes with Pall Mall. He won consecutive editions of the race and was one of the best colts to carry The Queen’s colours, going on to become a very successful stallion.

Another notable winner for her at the course came in 1970 via Charlton, named in honour of the 1966 England World Cup winning brothers, Bobby and Jack Charlton. He won the Spring Maiden by four lengths and developed into a smart performer, winning on four more occasions including the Henry II Stakes at Sandown.

It was the day after Her Majesty’s 91st birthday in 2017 when Call To Mind stormed to victory on his debut and provided Her Majesty with an extra reason to celebrate. The colt who went on to become a smart stayer, winning the March Stakes at Goodwood.

Chairman of Newbury Racecourse, Dominic Burke reflected on her many visits to Newbury: “Throughout her life, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a loyal figurehead for British Horseracing and we are honoured to have so many memories of her here at the racecourse.

“I can express the deep gratitude of myself and all at Newbury for her unwavering support for, and appreciation of, British racing over many decades. Our heartfelt condolences to His Majesty The King and the Royal family.”