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Queen Elizabeth II's favorite dogs race
for glory in Britain's Corgi Derby
[April 21, 2025]
LONDON (AP) — Some of
the fastest canines on four very short legs have raced for glory in
Scotland’s annual Corgi Derby.
The Musselburgh Racecourse Corgi Derby was first held in 2022 to mark
Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. The late monarch was a
devoted corgi fan who owned almost 30 of the breed over the decades,
along with a few dorgis – a corgi-dachshund cross. |
Participants take part in the Corgi Derby at Musselburgh Racecourse as
part of its Easter Saturday race day celebration, in Musselburgh,
Scotland, Saturday April 19, 2025. (Lesley Martin/PA via AP) |
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Four-year-old Juno beat a 16-strong field of dashing dogs
dressed in bright sweaters over the 230-foot (70-meter) race on
Saturday at the racecourse outside Edinburgh. She came from
behind in the final stretch to beat last year’s winner, Rodney.
The winner and her owners, Alisdair Tew and Fran Brandon, were
presented with a trophy and dog treats by tennis coach Judy
Murray, mother of Scottish star Andy Murray.
Tew told the BBC that “we trained her for this last year but
this year we just resorted to just letting her chasing things,
particularly seagulls" on Edinburgh’s Portobello Beach.
“Juno is always ready for treats -– that is probably why she
won,” he said.
Elizabeth's love of corgis began in 1933 when her father, King
George VI, brought home a Pembroke Welsh corgi they named Dookie
Corgis were often by Elizabeth's side in the decades before her
death in September 2022 — accompanying her on official tours,
reportedly sleeping in their own room at Buckingham Palace and
occasionally nipping the ankles of visitors or royal family
members.
Three corgis even appeared alongside the queen as she climbed
into James Bond’s waiting helicopter in the spoof video that
opened the 2012 London Olympics.
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