Racehorse trainer Henry Cecil has been awarded a knighthood in The Queen’s birthday honours list 2011.
The 10-times champion Flat trainer, who received the Knights Bachelor for services to horseracing said he was “more than slightly overwhelmed”. In his 42-year career he has trained 25 Classic winners and celebrated 72 victories at Royal Ascot.
Natural horsemanship trainer Monty Roberts was made an honorary member of the Royal Victorian Order for services to the royal family, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the racing establishment. This order is awarded privately by The Queen to those who have served the monarchy in a personal way.
The founder of Chepstow and Mount Ballan Horse Trials, Diana Bown, received an MBE for voluntary services to equestrian sport. Diana has organised British Eventing (BE) and Pony Club competitions in South Wales for over 30 years, as well as being a BE board director, British Equestrian Federation council member, trustee of the Curre and Llangibby hunt and retired Pony Club district commissioner.
The former chief executive of the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) Jeremy Richardson received an OBE for services to horseracing. Mr Richardson, who has work for the organisation for around 40 years before stepping down last year, told H&H he was “absolutely thrilled”.
And dual Grand National-winning owner Trevor Hemmings (Ballabriggs, 2010 and Hedgehunter, 2005) was named a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for his role as vice-president of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.
For more see this week’s issue of H&H — out on Thursday 16 June.