Lester Piggott

Lester Keith Piggott was a legendary English professional jockey and horse trainer. A jockey is a person who rides horses in competitive races. Piggott is widely regarded as one of the greatest flat racing jockeys in history. He achieved this through immense skill and a very competitive personality. He was often called "The Long Fellow" because he was tall for a jockey. This height made it difficult for him to maintain the low weight required for racing. Despite this, he successfully rode at weights as low as 8 stone. His influence helped expand horse racing's popularity beyond its narrow, class-based origins.

Success in horse racing requires a specific physical technique. Piggott pioneered a new style of race-riding during his career. This technique was so effective that it was widely adopted by other jockeys. His methods helped him become the British Champion Jockey eleven different times. He also demonstrated great discipline regarding his physical condition. He spent much of his career restricting his weight to stay competitive. This dedication allowed him to maintain a high level of performance over many decades. His riding style changed how the sport was practiced both in Britain and abroad.

Racing was a family tradition for the Piggott family for centuries. Lester was born in Wantage, Berkshire, in 1935. His family roots as jockeys and trainers trace back to the 18th century. His grandfather, Ernest Piggott, won three Grand National races. Ernest was also a three-time British jump racing Champion Jockey. Lester's father, Keith Piggott, was a successful National Hunt jockey and trainer. Keith won the Champion Hurdle as a jockey in 1939. He also won the Grand National as a trainer in 1963 with a horse named Ayala. Lester began working in his father's stable when he was only ten years old.

Lester's career was defined by extraordinary statistics and major victories. He won his first race in 1948 at Haydock Park when he was twelve. He won his first Epsom Derby in 1954 at age eighteen on a horse named Never Say Die. He went on to win the Epsom Derby a record nine times. His Derby winners included horses like Crepello, Nijinsky, and Teenoso. In Britain alone, he recorded 4,493 career flat racing wins. Worldwide, his total number of wins reached approximately 5,300. He won 30 British Classic races using 25 different horses.

Throughout his career, Piggott worked with many famous trainers. He served as the stable jockey for Noel Murless and later for Vincent O'Brien. In 1980, he became the stable jockey for Henry Cecil. This period included winning the championship in 1981 and 1982. He also had a successful period as a freelance rider in 1985. During this time, he won the Prix de Diane on Lypharita and the 2000 Guineas on Shadeed. Even after retiring from racing, he showed his lasting talent. He returned to racing in 1990 at age 55. Within ten days of his return, he won the Breeders' Cup Mile on Royal Academy.

Lester Piggott's life also included significant personal and legal challenges. In 1987, he was convicted of tax fraud. He was sentenced to three years in prison but served 366 days. Following this conviction, he was stripped of his Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) title. He later attempted a career as a trainer at his Eve Lodge stables in Newmarket. His training career was also ended by his legal troubles. Despite these difficulties, he remained a prominent figure in the racing world. He later lived in Switzerland with his partner, Lady Barbara FitzGerald.

Today, Piggott's legacy is preserved through many honors in the sport. The annual jockey awards, known as "The Lesters," were named in his honor in 1990. In 1999, the Racing Post ranked him as the second-best jockey of the 20th century. He was also one of the first two entries in the British Champions Series Hall of Fame. He died in a hospital in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 29, 2022, at age 86. His impact on the sport of horse racing remains unparalleled. He is remembered as a master of his craft who transformed the way jockeys ride.