Horse Racing Legends

Lester Piggott

Full Name: Lester Keith Piggott
Born: 5th November 1935 in Wantage, Oxfordshire
Trade: Jockey
Active: 1948 - 1995
Nicknames: The Long Fellow, Housewives Favourite

Lester Piggott Biography

Lester Piggott is widely considered the greatest English flat jockey of all time, having ridden over 5,000 winners worldwide, including a record nine Epsom Derby victories.

The son of national hunt jockey and Grand National winning trainer Keith Piggott, and grandson of Grand National winning jockey Ernie Piggott, Lester was born into a rich tradition of horse racing and rode his first winner in 1948 at Haydock Park, aged 12.

In 1954, the 18-year-old Piggott won the first of his nine Derby victories on a horse called Never Say Die. He would repeat his Derby success in 1957 (Crepello), 1960 (St Paddy), 1968 (Sir Ivor), 1970 (Nijinsky), 1972 (Roberto), 1976 (Empery), 1977 (The Minstrel) and 1983 (Teenoso).

In a prolific flat racing career, Piggott dominated the Classics – adding to his Derby wins by riding to victory in the 1,000 Guineas twice, the 2,000 Guineas five times, The Oaks six times and the St Leger on eight occasions.

He also achieved notable successes outside Britain, riding five Irish Derby winners – culminating with victory on the iconic horse Shergar in 1981, and three Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners in the 1970s.

Piggott was crowned champion jockey 11 times in his career, and revered for his ability to transform average horses into race winners. At 5ft 8” he was considered tall for a jockey, and rode with a distinctive style, riding short with his seat high in the air going down to the post.

Piggott retired from racing at the end of the 1985 flat season, and set up his stall as trainer at his Eve Lodge Stables.

But in 1987 he was jailed for three years for tax evasion and stripped of the OBE he was awarded in 1975.

Piggott served 365 days of his sentence and returned to racing in 1990, taking just 10 days to record a winner at the Breeder’s Cup in America and remarkably riding Rodrigo de Triano to victory in the 1992 2,000 Guineas – his 30th and final Classics winner.

Piggott rode his last winner in October 1994 and officially retired from racing in 1995.

1,000 Guineas - (2) - Humble Duty (1970), Fairy Footsteps (1981)

2,000 Guineas - (5) - Crepello (1957), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Shadeed (1985), Rodrigo de Triano (1992)

Ascot Gold Cup - (11) - Zarathustra (1957), Gladness (1958), Pandofell (1961), Twilight Alley (1963), Fighting Charlie (1965), Sagaro (1975, 1976 & 1977), Le Moss (1979), Ardross (1981 & 1982)

Champion Stakes - (5) - Petite Etoile (1959), Pieces of Eight (1966), Sir Ivor (1968), Giacometti (1974), Rodrigo de Triano (1992)

Cheveley Park Stakes - (4) - Fleet (1966), Lalibela (1967), Durtal (1976), Marwell (1980)

Cork and Orrery Stakes (Golden Jubilee Stakes) - (9) - Right Boy (1958 & 1959), Tin Whistle (1960), El Gallo (1963), Mountain Call (1968), Welsh Saint (1970), Saritamer (1974), Thatching (1979), College Chapel (1993)

Coronation Cup - (9) - Zucchero (1953), Nagami (1959), Petite Etoile (1960 & 1961), Park Top (1969), Roberto (1973), Quiet Fling (1976), Sea Chimes (1980), Be My Native (1983)

Coronation Stakes - (5) - Aiming High (1961), Calve (1972), Lisadell (1974), Roussalka (1975), Chalon (1982)

Derby - (9) - Never Say Die (1954), Crepello (1957), St Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1983)

Dewhurst Stakes - (10) - Crepello (1956), Follow Suit (1962), Ribofilio (1968), Nijinsky (1969), Crowned Prince (1971), Cellini (1973), The Minstrel (1976), Try My Best (1977), Monteverdi (1979), Diesis (1982)

Eclipse Stakes - (7) - Mystery IX (1951), Darius (1955), Arctic Explorer (1957), St Paddy (1961), Pieces of Eight (1966), Wolver Hollow (1969), Artaius (1977)

Falmouth Stakes - (7) - Sylphide (1957), Green Opal (1960), Chrona (1966), Vital Match (1969), Chalon (1982), Niche (1993), Lemon Souffle (1994)

Fillies' Mile - (4) - Escorial (1973), Miss Pinkie (1976), Cherry Hinton (1977), Oh So Sharp (1984)

Haydock Sprint Cup - (3) - Green God (1971), Abergwaun (1972), Moorestyle (1980)

International Stakes - (5) - Dahlia (1974 & 1975), Hawaiian Sound (1978), Commanche Run (1985), Rodrigo de Triano (1992)

July Cup - (10) - Vigo (1957), Right Boy (1958 & 1959), Tin Whistle (1960), Thatch (1973), Saritamer (1974), Solinus (1978), Thatching (1979), Moorestyle (1980), Mr Brooks (1992)

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - (7) - Meadow Court (1965), Aunt Edith (1966), Park Top (1969), Nijinsky (1970), Dahlia (1974), The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1984)

Lockinge Stakes - (6) - Sovereign Path (1960), The Creditor (1964), Sparkler (1973), Belmont Bay (1981), Polar Falcon (1991), Swing Low (1993)

Middle Park Stakes - (6) - Petingo (1967), Steel Heart (1974), Junius (1978), Mattaboy (1980), Cajun (1981), Diesis (1982)

Nassau Stakes - (5) - Aunt Edith (1965), Haymaking (1966), Cheveley Princess (1973), Roussalka (1975 & 1976)

Nunthorpe Stakes - (7) - Right Boy (1958 & 1959), Matatina (1963), Caterina (1966), Tower Walk (1969), Swing Easy (1971), Solinus (1978)

Oaks - (6) - Carozza (1957), Petite Etoile (1959), Valoris (1966), Juliette Marny (1975), Blue Wind (1981), Circus Plume (1984)

Prince of Wales's Stakes - (3) - Gift Card (1973), Anne's Pretender (1976), Crimson Beau (1979)

Queen Anne Stakes - (5) - Sparkler (1972), Baptism (1979), Belmont Bay (1981), Mr Fluorocarbon (1982), Trojan Fen (1984)

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - (4) - The Creditor (1963), Linacre (1964), Hill Rise (1966), To-Agori-Mou (1981)

Racing Post Trophy - (5) - Ribocco (1966), Noble Decree (1972), Apalachee (1973), Dunbeath (1982), Lanfranco (1984)

St. James's Palace Stakes - (5) - Roan Rocket (1964), Petingo (1968), Thatch (1973), Jaazeiro (1978), Bairn (1985)

St. Leger - (8) - St Paddy (1960), Aurelius (1961), Ribocco (1967), Ribero (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Athens Wood (1971), Boucher (1972), Commanche Run (1984)

Sun Chariot Stakes - (6) - Popkins (1970), Cheveley Princess (1973), Swiss Maid (1978), Topsy (1979), Snow (1980), Home on the Range (1981)

Sussex Stakes - (6) - Petite Etoile (1959), Roan Rocket (1964), Petingo (1968), Thatch (1973), Artaius (1977), Jaazeiro (1978)

Yorkshire Oaks - (4) - Petite Etoile (1959), Parthian Glance (1966), Shoot A Line (1980), Awaasif (1982)

Irish 1,000 Guineas - (2) - Favoletta (1971), Godetia (1979)

Irish 2,000 Guineas - (3) - Decies (1970), Jaazeiro (1978), Rodrigo de Triano (1992)

Irish Champion Stakes - (1) - Commanche Run (1985)

Irish Derby - (5) - Meadow Court (1965), Ribocco (1967), Ribero (1968), The Minstrel (1977), Shergar (1981)

Irish Oaks - (3) - Santa Tina (1970), Juliette Marny (1975), Godetia (1979)

Irish St. Leger - (3) - Dan Kano (1967), Caucasus (1975), Meneval (1976)

Moyglare Stud Stakes - (1) - Lemon Souffle (1993)

National Stakes - (4) - Cellini (1973), Sir Wimborne (1975), El Prado (1991), Fatherland (1992)

Tattersalls Gold Cup - (2) - Cavo Doro (1973), Elegant Air (1985)

Grand Critérium (Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère) - (3) - Sir Ivor (1967), Breton (1969), My Swallow (1970)

Grand Prix de Paris - (2) - Roll of Honour (1970), Sagaro (1974)

Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - (1) - Teenoso (1984)

Poule d'Essai des Pouliches - (2) - Rajput Princess (1964), River Lady (1982)

Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - (4) - Tower Walk (1969), Balidar (1970), Moorestyle (1980), Mr Brooks (1992)

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - (3) - Rheingold (1973), Alleged (1977 & 1978)

Prix de Diane - (3) - Mrs Penny (1980), Madam Gay (1981), Lypharita (1985)

Prix de la Forêt - (2) - Moorestyle (1980 & 1981)

Prix Ganay - (1) - Trillion (1978)

Prix Jacques Le Marois - (1) - Nonoalco (1974)

Prix Jean Prat - (3) - Speedy Dakota (1975), Dom Racine (1978), Night Alert (1980)

Prix du Jockey Club - (1) - Hard to Beat (1972)

Prix Lupin - (2) - Hard to Beat (1972), Persépolis (1982)

Prix Marcel Boussac - (3) - Vela (1969), Play It Safe (1981), Midway Lady (1985)

Prix Maurice de Gheest - (4) - Mountain Call (1968), Abergwaun (1972), Moorestyle (1981), College Chapel (1993)

Prix Morny - (2) - My Swallow (1970), Nonoalco (1973)

Prix du Moulin de Longchamp - (3) - Habitat (1969), Gold Rod (1970), Sparkler (1973)

Prix Royal-Oak - (1) - Ardross (1981)

Prix Saint-Alary - (1) - Nobiliary (1975)

Prix de la Salamandre - (2) - My Swallow (1970), Nonoalco (1973)

Prix Vermeille - (1) - Aunt Edith (1965)

Deutsches Derby - (3) - Orsini (1957), Fanfar (1963), Luciano (1967)

Preis der Diana - (1) - On Dit (1967)

Canadian International Stakes - (1) - Dahlia (1974)

Breeders' Cup Mile - (1) - Royal Academy (1990)

Washington, D.C. International - (3) - Sir Ivor (1968), Karabas (1969), Argument (1980)