Legendary Jockey Piggott Dies

Racing has lost one of the biggest names in the sport's history following the death of Lester Piggott at the age of 86.

Piggott, who died peacefully in Switzerland May 29 having been in hospital recently, was known throughout the world after a hugely successful riding career that lasted the best part of 50 years and remained Britain's most famous jockey long after he quit the saddle.

That was in part due to the longevity that allowed him to ride a phenomenal 4,493 winners, the third-highest tally in British racing history behind only Sir Gordon Richards and Pat Eddery, and an amazing big-race haul. He won the Epsom Derby (G1) a record nine times, including on 1970 European Triple Crown winner Nijinsky.

And it also owed something to the way a man nicknamed "The Long Fellow" and was 5'8" tall fought to ride at 30 pounds below his natural body weight and his uncanny knack of getting out of trouble on and off course, most famously when he returned from retirement and a spell in prison to win the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) on Royal Academy at the age of 54 in 1990.

Piggott was as well-bred for the job as the choice horses he rode. His grandfather Ernie rode three Grand National winners and his father Keith won the Champion Hurdle as a jockey and the National as a trainer.

He rode his first winner at the age of just 12, on The Chase at Haydock in 1948, and the triple champion apprentice won his first Epsom Derby at 18 on Never Say Die in 1954.

Piggott was champion jockey 11 times between 1960 and 1982 and scored a record 30 British Classic wins, many for legendary Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien.

Having initially retired in 1985, his training career was cut short by the conviction for tax fraud that earned him a year in prison, and he rode on for another four seasons after his shock return to the saddle.

Piggott's former weighing room colleague Willie Carson paid tribute to the legendary rider, describing him as "magical on top of a horse."

Carson said: "Lester was an iconic figure in the racing industry and changed the way things were done from his early days until he retired. Most jockeys were better off for his endeavors as we all had to up our game because of him.

"He was magical on top of a horse. He had this confidence about him and didn't care about what people were going to think about him—he just got on and did what he thought was the right thing on a horse and it normally was.

"He had an empathy for the animal and knew what a horse was thinking. He knew what a horse wanted, be it tough, soft, holding up or using his stride, and he always seemed to get it right."

Carson shared an insight into what Piggott was like in the weighing room and said he had a caring side beyond his aura.

He said: "Lester walked about with an aura about him and he always was in charge. Everyone looked up to him and watched him. He was also a very caring man, if a jockey sustained injury and ended up in the hospital, he would be one of the few to turn up and visit them.

"We had battles galore over the years and I look back with such fond memories."

John Gosden described Piggott as "extraordinary and totally unique," adding there "will never be another one like him."

Gosden said: "Lester was an extraordinary and totally unique man and jockey. I first knew him well in the 1970s when he was riding for Sir Noel Murless and Vincent O'Brien. They listened to and savored everything he said which could be quite minimalistic.

"They certainly admired his race-riding and his feel for a horse on the gallops. He was famous for changing work instructions to suit himself to find out more but that was typical Lester who was always a rule unto himself. There'll never be another one like him."

Fellow Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "Lester was a genius on a horse and rode me my first winner, which was Sandal at Newmarket in a tight finish. He later won the Irish Sweeps Derby (G1) on Shergar and the General Accident Two Thousand Guineas (G1) on Shadeed for us when Walter Swinburn was suspended."

Jockeys will gather for a minute's silence between the two group 1 races at Longchamp on Sunday with an image of Piggott to be shown on the big screens.

Riders will sport black armbands for the third race on the card and have the option to wear them throughout the day.

A minute's silence took place before racing at Fontwell and Uttoxeter in Britain on Sunday and is scheduled for prior to the second race at Punchestown.