Lester Piggott
Born on 5th of November 1935
(full name and title: Lester Keith Piggott)
Born: November 5, 1935
Nicknamed 'The Long Fellow', Lester Piggott is considered by many to be one of the greatest flat jockeys of all time. His nickname is due to his height, at 5 foot 8 inches he is exceptionally tall for a jockey. He is probably the most successful jockeys of his generation.
His father, Keith Piggott, was also a champion jockey before his son Lester took over the rein. Piggott Senior had won the Champion Hurdle as a jockey in 1939 and was later to produce a Grand National winner in 1963 as a trainer.
Young Lester Piggott did not take long to make his mark and won his first race on The Chase at Haydock Park while only 12. He started his love affair with the Epsom Derby, one of British Horse Racing's most prized events, with his first win at the age of only 18 in 1954. It was a victory he was to repeat on a further eight occasions, the last being in 1983.
He has won just about every flat race you could list in Western Europe, and has triumphed at most of them on numerous occasions. Piggott's achievements included victory at the Ascot Gold cup a staggering 11 times!
Piggott retired from racing for the first time in 1985 and became a racehorse trainer. He was successful as a trainer but was unfortunately soon to fall foul of the British Government. In 1987 he was jailed for three years following charges of tax evasion and stripped of his OBE.
He returned to jockeying following his release from jail and had his first winner within ten days! He finally retired from jockeying for good in 1995 following another successful spell.
He had some health problems in May 2007 but was back out and about at Ascot in 2007 and in June 2007 he attended the Epsom Derby; where he tipped the winner in an interview with BBC Television.
Links:
http://www.epsom-derby.net/lester-piggott.php Epsom Derbys Piggott Page
internal link National Horseracing Museum
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