Piggott rode his first winner, The Chase, at Haydock in 1948 when simply 12 years of age and his final win got here with Palacegate Jack on the identical observe in 1994, a couple of weeks wanting his 59th birthday. He retired for a closing time in 1995.
Piggott rode his first winner, The Chase, at Haydock in 1948 when simply 12 years of age and his final win got here with Palacegate Jack on the identical observe in 1994, a couple of weeks wanting his 59th birthday. He retired for a closing time in 1995.
Legendary flat race jockey Lester Piggott who rode a report 9 Epsom Derby winners has died aged 86 his son-in-law mentioned on Sunday.
Piggott was admitted to hospital in Switzerland final weekend.
“Sadly we can confirm that Lester died peacefully in Switzerland this morning,” mentioned his son-in-law Williams Haggas.
“I really don’t wish to add much more than that at this stage, although Maureen (Piggott’s daughter) will be making a statement later.”
Piggott is broadly considered one of many best jockeys within the sport’s historical past, and had been beforehand admitted to intensive care in 2007 because of a coronary heart drawback.
‘The Long Fellow’ as he was nicknamed — because of being unusually tall for a flat jockey — had lived close to Geneva since 2012.
Statues of Piggott adorn 9 racecourses in England and solely per week in the past one was unveiled at Ireland’s premier racetrack The Curragh.
The 11-time British champion jockey rode 16 Irish traditional winners on the observe largely because of his partnership with coach Vincent O’Brien.
The three-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe profitable jockey was as soon as often called the housewives’ favorite when it got here to choosing an Epsom Derby horse to again.
His first Derby winner got here when he was simply 18 on Never Say Die in 1954 together with his ninth and final Teenoso in 1983.
He retired from the saddle in 1985 to coach.
However, that was dropped at an abrupt halt by the conviction for tax fraud in 1987 that noticed him serve a yr in jail, and made a shock return after his launch to what he knew finest, using.
He rode on for one more 4 seasons together with his most notable success when he memorably reunited with O’Brien to win the distinguished Breeders’ Cup Mile on Royal Academy on the age of 54 in 1990.
Piggott rode his first winner, The Chase, at Haydock in 1948 when simply 12 years of age and his final win got here with Palacegate Jack on the identical observe in 1994, a couple of weeks wanting his 59th birthday. He retired for a closing time in 1995.
He rode 4,493 winners, the third highest tally in British racing historical past behind solely Gordon Richards and Pat Eddery.
However, he performed down his fame, declaring in 2015 that it will fade with time.
“I think a lot of older people still remember me,” he advised the Racing Post.
“I’m probably famous to them, but the younger ones wouldn’t really know who I am. Time goes by.”
Source: www.thehindu.com
