A Tribute to Lester Piggott

1935 -2022

Lester

F e w p e o p l e r e c e i v e s u c h w o r l d w i d e a c c l a i m t h a t t h e y c a n b e i d e n t i f i e d b y t h e i r f i r s t n a m e a l o n e . Lester Pig gott , w ho p as se d a wa y p ea cefull y a ge d 8 6 l as t weekend, w as o ne .

Retiring from the saddle having won a record 30 British Classics, Lester will be remembered as one of the most iconic sports stars of his or any other generation. With 4,493 UK winners to his name only two jockeys have ever ridden more – Sir Gordon Richards and Pat Eddery. But it was at Epsom Downs where his achievements remain unrivalled. A record nine Derby victories, six Oaks winners and an unprecedented nine Coronation Cups may never be eclipsed.

It was in 1951 as a 15 year old that Lester had his first Derby mount on Zucchero. The talented but quirky performer was left at the start that day, but handed the young rider some compensation two years later when providing him with his first Coronation Cup win. The rest, of course, is history and record breaking history at that. Lester would taste Derby success as an 18 year old on Never Say Die in 1954 and went on to win the premier Classic another eight times in total. Crepello (1957), St Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977) and Teenoso (1983) all passed the Epsom Downs winning post first in the hands of “The Long Fellow”. Sir Ivor, Nijinsky, Roberto and The Minstrel were all saddled by the legendary Irish trainer Vincent O’Brien. And although Lester could prove to be challenging at times, his unrivalled ability to ride the unique Epsom Downs course surpassed all others as O’Brien’s son-in-law and Coolmore supremo, John Magnier, outlined in his tribute to Lester last weekend. He said: “At this time of year MV (Vincent O’Brien) was regularly frustrated by Lester playing musical chairs of what he would be riding in The Derby. “But he said, ‘you have to put up with him, otherwise you give the opposition a 7lbs advantage!’ He really was the greatest.” The last of Lester’s record 36 Derby mounts came aged 58 in 1994, when he partnered 33-1 chance Khamaseen into fifth place. When he started riding, Sir Gordon Richards and Charlie Smirke were his contemporaries while his final years saw him pitched against the likes of Steve Cauthen and Frankie Dettori. Indeed, “The Lester Piggott Years” began when Sir Winston Churchill was Prime Minister and ended with John Major inside 10 Downing Street. When he finally called time on his career, Lester was commemorated at Epsom Downs with the opening of the Lester Piggott Gates, officially unveiled by The Queen on Derby Day in 1996. Later that afternoon, Shaamit landed the premier Classic and was, appropriately, trained by Lester’s son-in-law William Haggas. A further tribute followed in 2019, when William Newton’s life-size bronze statue of Lester was unveiled on Derby Day by The Queen next to the Epsom Downs winner’s enclosure. The Jockey Club has honoured the world’s most famous jockey by renaming today’s Cazoo Derby as The Cazoo Derby (In Memory of Lester Piggott). Join us all for a minute’s applause at 4pm to celebrate the life of Lester Piggott. Champion. Genius. Icon.