Former champion jockey Lester Piggott has died at the age of 86.
Piggott, an 11-time champion and winner of 30 classics, including Derby’s remarkable nine wins, was widely regarded as one of the best runners of all time.
Piggot’s son-in-law, Derby’s winning coach William Haggas, said: “Unfortunately, we can confirm that Lester died peacefully in Switzerland this morning. a statement later “.
Image: The queen leads her Oaks winner, Carrozza, with Piggott in the chair
Piggott won his first race at age 12 at Haydock in 1948, and went on to mount more than 4,000 winners before his first retirement in 1985.
In 1975, Piggott received an OBE, but his honor was revoked after he was sentenced to three years in prison in 1987 for evading income tax.
Image: Piggott retired from riding in 1995 at the age of 59
After a five-year absence, he returned to the chair in 1990, winning the Guineas in 2000 in 1992, before retiring for the last time in 1995 at the age of 59.
In 2021, Piggott was selected in the first draft of the British Champions Series Hall of Fame nominees and the jockey’s annual awards, The Lesters, are named in his honor.
Lester Piggott – Chronology of a remarkable career
1948 – Piggott, 12, takes his first public walk in The Chase at Salisbury on April 7. The horse gives Haydock his first hit on August 18th.
1950 – Rides 52 winners while finishing season as apprentice champion.
1954 – Piggott, now 18, associates Never Say Die (33/1) with the first of his nine Derby victories.
1960 – Derby and St Leger hits help win a first 170-title jockey championship.
1965 – Rides eight winners at Royal Ascot, a score improved only by Sir Gordon Richards with nine.
1966 – Piggott wins the fourth championship with his highest total of 191, 94 ahead of his nearest rival.
1970 – Wins 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger in Nijinsky, the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 35 years. The pair also finished second in the Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
1976: Laughs record of the seventh winner of the Derby at Empery.
1982 – He wins the last of his 11 jockey championships.
1983 – Teenoso takes him to his ninth victory in the Derby.
1984 – Piggott breaks the record set by Frank Buckle 157 years before winning the 28th classic at the Commanche Run in St Leger.
1985: Retirement at the end of the season is announced. He rides the 29th winner of the classic, Shadeed in Guinea in 2000, but only records 34 victories, the last of which is at Full Choke in Nottingham, bringing his total career to 4,349.
1986 – Piggott moves to Newmarket as a coach with 30 winners, including one at Royal Ascot.
1987 – He wins the first classic as a coach with Lady Bentley at the Italian Oaks.
1990 – The return to the race is announced and Piggott finishes close to second on the first lap. He rides the first winner of the comeback at Nicholas, coached by his wife Susan, in Chepstow.
1992 – Wins the 30th British classic over Rodrigo De Triano in 2000 Guineas.
1994 – The last winner, Palacegate Jack, passes to Haydock on October 6.