REDCAR Racecourse will pay a poignant tribute to The Queen at its first meeting since her passing at the age of 96.

A two-minute silence will be held around the paddock at Tuesday’s meeting, shortly before the first race, which is scheduled to start at 1.43pm.

Jockeys will also wear black armbands, and the Union Flag will fly at half-mast from The Petch Stand. All other flags will be lowered as a mark of respect.

The Queen was a passionate supporter of horse racing and her famous purple and scarlet colours, with gold braid, graced the Redcar turf on numerous occasions.

In 1968, Her Majesty’s horse, Castle Yard, trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort and ridden by Stan Smith, won The Zetland Gold Cup.

Two years later, The Queen's horse, St Patrick's Blue, trained by Major Dick Hern and ridden by Joe Mercer, won the inaugural running of the Timeform Gold Trophy.

The Queen won a second Zetland Gold Cup in 2009 when My Kingdom of Fife was trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore.

The famous Royal colours were also first past the post on May 22, 2017, when Patchwork (pictured below), trained at Lambourn by Richard Hughes, won the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Median Auction Stakes, when ridden by Shane Kelly.

The Queen last had a winner at Redcar in August, 2018, when Humbolt Current (pictured below), trained by William Haggas, and ridden by David Allan, were victorious.

Redcar’s general manager Amy Fair said: “The Queen was so passionate about her racing and it was a joy and a privilege for Redcar to have had several winners in her famous silks over the years. It was always a source of great pride to welcome her horses, so it is very fitting to honour her memory – and her love of our sport – at our first meeting since her passing.”