Lester Piggott

Jockey Profile

Lester Piggott

Lester Piggott is considered to be one of the best flat racing jockeys of all time. He had 4493 wins which included 9 Epsom Derby victories. Piggott was born on the 5th of November 1935 and is now retired.

His family is renowned in racing circles; his father is Keith Piggott who had great success as a National Hunt trainer and jockey. His grandfather, Ernie Piggott was the rider of 3 Grand National champs. His wife, Susan is also from racing stock, with a father who is a racehorse trainer too.

Piggot won his first race at the age of 12 riding a horse named The Chase. This was in 1948 at Haydock Park. He became a teenage marvel, winning the Epsom Derby at the age of 18 in 1954 riding a horse called Never Say Die. He was the pioneer of a new style of riding that became widely adopted in the UK and abroad; this unique riding style ensured he was crowned Champion Jockey 11 times.

He retired from riding at the end of the 1985 season and started training racehorses. In its heyday, his Eve Lodge stables had 97 horses in residence and had sent out 34 winning horses. However, he was jailed for 3 years for tax irregularities in 1987, and was stripped of his OBE to boot. He went back to racing after his release from jail and won the Breeders Cup Mile on the horse Royal Academy. Piggott was unusually tall for a jockey; measuring in at 1.73m. He struggled with his weight his entire career and rode at 112lbs (51kg).

Lester Piggott - 10 Notable Wins

1981 Irish Derby (Shergar)

1982 Middle Park Stakes (Diesis)

1983 Coronation Cup (Be My Native)

1984 Fillies' Mile (Oh So Sharp)

1985 International Stakes (Commanche Run)

1990 Breeders' Cup Mile (Royal Academy)

1991 Lockinge Stakes(Polar Falcon)

1992 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Mr Brooks)

1993 Golden Jubilee Stakes (College Chapel)

1994 Falmouth Stakes (Lemon Souffle)