Queen Elizabeth was known for her unflappable exterior, but there was one pastime that "allowed her to be carried away," per royal biographer Craig Brown. In his book Q: A Voyage Around The Queen, the author delves into the late Queen's love of horse racing—a hobby that was one of her biggest passions. From breeding horses to memorizing bloodlines, Queen Elizabeth's obsession with all things equestrian carried right up until her September 2022 death. Just months before she died, Queen Elizabeth got so into one race, in fact, that she caused her security team a fair amount of alarm.
Brown noted that for the late Queen—who "could relax in the company of trainers and jockeys"—horse racing gave "a glimpse of another life, another character." The sport also "put her customary restraint in jeopardy."
