A champion of the turf has been immortalised at Royal Ascot after The King and Queen unveiled a new statue of the great racehorse Enable in the Royal Enclosure.
In a surprise departure from the traditional Royal Ascot routine, The King and Queen made a detour before heading to the Royal Box, walking through the Royal Enclosure grandstand to attend the special unveiling ceremony.
Their Majesties were joined by Prince Saud bin Khalid, representing the family of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah, the owner and breeder of Enable. The King and Queen spent several minutes viewing the sculpture and chatting with guests gathered for the occasion.
The striking bronze statue, positioned within the Royal Enclosure with the grandstand and Royal Box overlooking it, pays tribute to one of the most celebrated racehorses of the modern era.
A plaque beneath the sculpture records Enable’s remarkable achievements. Owned and bred by Prince Khalid Abdullah, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, she won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on three occasions – in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Enable’s success extended far beyond Ascot. She became a dual winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and captured the imagination of racing fans around the world through a glittering career that established her as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
During the ceremony, The King was seen sharing a light-hearted moment with Prince Saud bin Khalid in the shadow of the newly unveiled statue, while The Queen admired the tribute to the legendary mare.
The unveiling ensures that Enable’s legacy will remain a permanent part of Royal Ascot, allowing future generations of racegoers to remember a horse whose achievements transcended the sport.
After the ceremony concluded, The King and Queen returned to the Royal Box to continue the opening day of Royal Ascot 2026.
