Queen asked to pay back £80,000 as champion racehorse is disqualified

Estimate, who returned to winning ways in last week’s Doncaster Cup, was one of seven horses to become embroiled in a contaminated horse feed scandal.

It is particularly embarrassing for racing because of Estimate’s high profile after becoming the first Royal-owned winner of the blue riband Ascot Gold Cup in 2013 before finishing runner-up in June.

A British Horseracing Authority panel was satisfied that the source of the prohibited substances was a batch of a feed supplement manufactured by Dodson & Horrell Limited, and that no further action would be taken against Estimate’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute or the other yards caught up in the saga.

However BHA raceday operations director Jamie Stier said disqualification was the only option available. “The administration of the substance was accidental...while it is unfortunate for those involved, no other approach would be acceptable when the cornerstone of our policy is ensuring a level playing field for all participants,” he said.

“Instances of feed batches becoming contaminated are, thankfully, very rare. It has been an unfortunate situation for those involved, especially the connections of all the horses affected.”