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Widely regarded as the best jockey of his generation, the 42-year-old has ridden more than 2,600 winners in Britain and won the Epsom Derby four times

Ryan Moore has been awarded an MBE for his services to racing and British sport in the King's birthday honours list.

Moore, who rode Estimate to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2013 for the late Queen Elizabeth II, is widely regarded as the best jockey of his generation,.

He has ridden more than 2,600 winners in Britain and nearly 3,400 worldwide since his first ride and win in a Towcester handicap hurdle in 2000. Moore has won the Epsom Derby four times out of 18 British Classic successes and worldwide has bagged 221 Group 1 races. He also ridden 92 winners at Royal Ascot.

His father Gary, a former jockey who is now a trainer alongside another of his son, Josh, told the Press Association: "It's well deserved and I'm very surprised.

"I know I'm his father, but he does a lot of good things behind the scenes as well as what he does out on the track and this is fantastic. I'm obviously very proud.

"I know he was very well liked by the (late) Queen and she had a huge respect for Ryan. I was fortunate to meet her a few months before she passed away and I was amazed by how she spoke about him.

"I think Ryan will be proud deep down, even though he won't probably show it. I think he will be very shocked as well as much as anything. It's another great moment in his career."

Joining Moore on the honours list is renowned owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing, who has been awarded a CBE for services to charity and animal welfare, as well as horse racing and bloodstock.

Owner of Newmarket's Lanwades Stud, Rausing's green and white silks are a regular sight on the racecourse and have been carried to notable success by the Sir Mark Prescott-trained pair of dual Champion Stakes heroine Alborada and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista.

Richard Lyttle, former manager of Downpatrick racecourse in Northern Ireland, has also been awarded an MBE.

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