Whether it be directly or indirectly, Knights Of The Realm have long been associated and involved with the “Sport of Kings” down the centuries, and continue to do so to this day.
In this article, we take a look at five “Knights” that you may, or may not, be familiar with:
Sir Mark Prescott
Sir Mark Prescott was the youngest trainer in Newmarket when he took out a licence in 1970 and is now one of the oldest.
Situated at the base of the famous Warren Hill, Sir Mark trains a select team of around 50 horses. He enjoys landing the big handicaps but has also masterminded the careers of sprinters Pivotal and Elite Racing’s dual Group 1-winner Marsha.
Sir Mark also achieved Group 1 success with Albanova, Alborada, Hooray and Confidential Lady. His biggest success came in 2022 when Alpinista won a £2.4 million first prize in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Sir Henry Cecil
Sir Henry Cecil was one of the most successful and much-loved trainers of the past century and is still fondly remembered by his contemporaries and sports betting punters alike.
In October 2012, the late Cecil acclaimed Frankel, as possibly the greatest racehorse there has ever been, after the magnificent colt had signed off his flawless 14-race career with victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. “He’s the best I’ve ever had, the best I’ve ever seen,” he said. “I’d be very surprised if there’s ever been anything better.”
Ten champion trainer titles, 75 Royal Ascot wins and four victories in the Derby at Epsom, were just a small part of his overall training legacy.
Sir Michael Stoute
Legendary trainer Sir Michael Stoute retired at the end of 2024, having won almost everything in the sport – from the smallest racecourses to the biggest meetings around.
Stoute has been champion trainer 10 times, and won more than 4,000 races, including the Derby on six occasions.
He captured the 1981 Derby with the brilliant Shergar, who was famously kidnapped, and took the 2013 Gold Cup at Ascot with Estimate, owned by the late Queen, Queen Elizabeth II.
Dame Judi Dench
The Oscar-winning actress has been a racehorse owner for many years, with her most notable success coming with Smokey Oakey, who won the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster in 2008. She also co-owned As De Mee with Andy Stewart, a horse trained by Paul Nicholls.
Dame Judi Dench is a patron for several horse related organisations, including the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre and the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).
Dame Caroline Dinenage
Conservative MP Dame Caroline Dinenage is the cross-party Chair of the Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee, and as recently as June 2025, said that horse racing was facing a “looming and imminent crisis” and asked colleagues: “When will the government really start to back British horseracing and horse racing betting?”
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), of which Evoke PLC is a member, has congratulated Dame Caroline Dinenage MP on her re-election.
BGC members make huge economic investments across the UK, with nearly two thirds of industry supported jobs based outside London.
