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Lester Keith Piggott (born 5 November1935) is a retired Englishjockey, considered to be the best of his generation and one of the greatest flat jockeys of all time.
Famously tall for a jockey (5'8"/1.73 m), Lester Piggott struggled to keep his weight down and for most of his career rode at little more than 8 stone (51 kg). He pioneered a new style of race-riding that was subsequently widely adopted by colleagues at home and abroad and enabled him to become Champion Jockey 11 times. There can be little doubt that had he not chosen after the 1971 season to ride more selectively that he would have won more championships.
In 1980 his relationship with the Sangster - O'Brien combination came to an end and in a jockeys merry go round he was appointed as stable jockey to Noel Murless's son-in law Henry Cecil , the champion trainer at Murless's old stables Warren Place . He was again champion jockey in 1981 and 1982. In late 1983 however over a dispute as to whether he had reneged on an agreement to ride Daniel Wildenstein's All Along in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Wildenstein refused to allow him to ride any more of his horses.It was costly for Piggott as All Along won the Arc and a string of other international races that autumn . Further,as Wildenstein was one of Cecil's principal owners this placed a strain on the relationship and in 1984 Cecil and Piggott split with Steve Cauthen taking over at Warren Place.
After he retired from riding horses at the end of the 1985 flat season, he became a racehorse trainer. At its peak his Eve Lodge stables had housed 97 residents and sent out 34 winners. In 1987 he was jailed for 3 years, of which he served 366 days, for tax irregularities. The following year he was stripped of his OBE (which he had been awarded in 1975) because of tax evasion[1], but he resumed his career as a jockey in 1990 following his release from jail, winning the Breeders' Cup Mile on Royal Academy within ten days of his return and riding another classic winner in Rodrigo de Triano in 1992. He rode his last winner in October 1994 and officially retired, this time for good, in 1995. It is thought that his prison sentence had cost him an inevitable Knighthood.
The annual jockey awards The Lesters, inaugurated in 1990, are named in his honour.
Cork & 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)
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)
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 & 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)
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