A letter from Headley Bell

Friends and Family,

All the world mourns the death and celebrates the life of the most extraordinary, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In life, she symbolized so very much in so many different areas, and had a thread through the horse which allowed my mother Alice and John Chandler and her Mill Ridge to have a relationship and love for many years.

The start of this relationship goes back to May 5, 1965 because on this day was born a foal that would change the life of my mother and her Mill Ridge family.

Assisted at birth by my brother Reynolds, when hung up at his hips, this foal would grow up to be sold as a yearling at Keeneland for $42,000 to Raymond Guest and be trained and ridden by two of the greatest in our lives, Vincent O'Brien and Lester Piggott. Named SIR IVOR, he would be crowned Champion as a 2- and 3-year-old after winning the historic Epsom Derby.

In winning this race, Mom became the first woman to breed an Epsom Derby winner sold at auction, Keeneland. Also, with the success of Sir Ivor trained by Vincent O'Brien, father-in-law of John Magnier, the Europeans recognized the shift and next cycle was to occur and started buying yearlings in America and sending their mares to be bred to American stallions.

The Queen and her advisors including her farm/stud manager Michael Oswald of Sandringham Stud, recognized this shift as well. Michael had a relationship with Dr. John Chandler as he was a practicing veterinarian in Newmarket in the 1960s prior to coming to America and eventually marrying Mom in 1971. When the Queen decided she too wanted to send mares to be bred to stallions in America, Mill Ridge was a farm along with Lane's End where she boarded her mares.

Mill Ridge retired to stud the English 2-year-old champion, DIESIS in 1983, and he was owned by Lord Howard de Walden so there were many threads of friendship and engagement. Also, Mill Ridge boarded mares for Sheikh Hamadan al Maktoum, who was new to the thoroughbred business, and bought from Her Majesty, HEIGHT OF FASHION, champion 2-year-old and kept her with us.

In 1984, the Queen made her first visit to Kentucky to present the trophy for the inaugural running at Keeneland of The Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This gave Mom and Dr. Chandler the opportunity to spend time together and to nurture what would become a lifelong friendship. And in 1986, the Queen sent five mares to Mill Ridge. Her goal was to utilize the American stallions and their speed and durability and the trend of this success occurring in Europe.

With each visit, Mom and Dr. Chandler would have the opportunity to grow their friendship with Her Majesty. Her love of the horse is that common bond that breaks all barriers. That Mom was the breeder of SIR IVOR and so successful as a leader in the thoroughbred industry allowed them to have much in common. And when Mom and Dr. Chandler would go racing at the Queen's Royal Ascot race meet, they would have tea together and enjoy each other's company. Angela and Michael Oswald were also very good friends so it was very natural for everyone to enjoy each other's company and thread of the land,and horse and people.

Our manager at Mill Ridge, Duncan Macdonald started in 1978 and was English and the son of a veterinarian. I remember well the Queen's vist in 1989 when she inspected her mares at the farm and Duncan took such joy in sharing them and her commenting how well they looked. Also, Nancy and our oldest son Price along with Reynolds and his wife Lynn and their children Hillary and Whitney had the opportunity to meet the Queen and that will forever be cherished.

With Her Majesty's passing we are reminded what an extraordinary human being. Rarely is one able to live up to the highest standards we establish in this life. The Queen did that and our family has been honored to associate with her and our mutual love of the horse.

Headley