Horse racing legend Brough Scott has described being invited to join King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the royal procession at Royal Ascot as the greatest honour of his life. The 83-year-old broadcaster and writer, who has been closely associated with the sport for more than half a century, only learned he would ride alongside the royal couple moments before the procession began on the final day of the meeting.
Last-Minute Invitation
Scott, accompanied by his wife Susan, was told of his prominent role upon arriving at Windsor Castle. He told ITV Sport: "I found out when I stepped into Windsor Castle and they gave me the sheet! I was convinced we would be in the carriage at the back, so I had to tell Susan that we were in number one. It was a wonderful experience and a very enjoyable experience."
Reflecting on the moment, Scott said: "Saying this carefully, the greatest honour of my life. I'm a lucky fellow and for my wife to be with me was the loveliest moment." When asked if it was his best day on a racecourse, he added: "It's one of the best days of my life."
A Lifetime in Racing
Scott's career spans decades as a respected figure in racing circles. He first attended Royal Ascot in 1962 or 1963 and has witnessed significant changes. He remarked: "I've seen it change but I honestly think it's in better shape now than it ever was. I'm not, but it is! I'm very proud of what has happened today and I'm very proud to have been selected."
Meanwhile, Royal Ascot centurion Aidan O'Brien and jockey Ryan Moore capped a stellar week, winning the leading trainer and leading jockey prizes respectively. O'Brien's highlight was Scandinavia's victory over Trawlerman in the Gold Cup on Thursday, giving him a record-extending 10th success in the staying feature and making him the first trainer to reach 100 winners at the meeting. He finished the week with seven winners, two ahead of his son Joseph.
O'Brien said: "It's been a brilliant week. A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work, and I'm so grateful to them. I'm always mentioning everybody but some people I don't mention, I'm sorry to anyone I haven't mentioned, but I'm so grateful to the whole team for a lot of hard work."
