 The Queen Mother was famously keen on horse racing and a race at the Cheltenham Festival, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, is named in her honour.The two most prominent flat owners of the current era are Sheikh Mohammed, under the Godolphin banner and the team of Michael Tabor, John Magnier and others, based in Ireland.Prominent jumps owners include JP McManus, Graham Wylie and Trevor Hemmings

Modern-day racing originated in Britain, so many figures from British racing have shaped the sport.