This is witness history on the BBC World Service. Today we go back to a unique horse race,

which became known as the Coronation Derby because one of Queen Elizabeth II's horses

took part. This programme, first broadcast in 2012, is presented by Julian Bedford.

It's June 6, 1953. Derby Day.

And now to what's the Coronation Derby comes to her majesty, the Queen. Her car bearing the royal standard

moves slowly down the course from Tattenham corner. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh,

who wears a great oppa for the occasion, the Queen weighs acknowledgement to the welcoming cheers.

The British Pathane Newsreel takes us to Epsom Downs, home of the most prestigious race of the

sport of kings. This particular renewal has drawn the great and good of the horse racing world

and tens of thousands of spectators still celebrating the Coronation. The journalist Petrera Sullivan,

32 years old and already on his way to becoming the voice of racing, was amongst the throng.

There was a crowd, believe it or not, estimated and probably underestimated at half a million,

half a million on the dance. There were flags and waving and clacks and splaring and the crowd

were absolutely joyous and really up for a party. A party but also a big race and a showdown

between Oriol, the cult owned by the recently crowned Queen Elizabeth and Pinza, the mount of her

newest knight, the veteran hero of the turf, Sir Gordon Richards. The partisan ship among the crowd,

virtually half I could imagine, praying that Gordon would win at his 28th attempt. He'd been 26

times champion jockey and he was an icon in the sporting world and then of course there was the

the lovely young 26-year-old and newly crowned princess who instantly captured everybody's

hearts and imagination. Queen Elizabeth had knighted the great jockey four days earlier in her

coronation honours list, a mark of how much she'd been taken by horses since being introduced

to them by a father as a child. It was the first time she'd stroked a thundered bread that she

...