Lester Piggott, a jockey who won the English Derby nine times and saddled the legendary horse Nijinsky, has died, his family said Sunday. He was 86.
Piggott died in a Switzerland hospital, his son-in-law and Derby-winning trainer William Haggas told the BBC.
“Sadly we can confirm that Lester died peacefully in Switzerland this morning,” Haggas said in a statement.
How very sad to wake up to the news that we have lost this great man. His legacy will live on forever. One of those few names that went outside the racing bubble and there isn’t many people who don’t know his name ❤️ #lesterpiggott pic.twitter.com/4FkX85bs91
— Leonna Mayor (@LeonnaMayor) May 29, 2022
The Englishman won 30 British Classic flat races in a career that yielded 4,493 winners, according to the BBC. He also had 116 Royal Ascot victories and was named a champion jockey in England 11 times between 1960 and 1982, the BBC reported.
Piggott also won the 2,000 Guineas race five times, the 1,000 Guineas twice, the Oaks six times and the St. Leger eight times, according to The Associated Press.
One of his most famous horses was Nijinsky, which won the Derby, the 2,000 Guineas and the St. Leger -- British racing’s Triple Crown -- in 1970.
Piggott saddled his first winner in 1948 when he was 12 years old and his final one in 1994, the BBC reported. He retired in 1995.
In 1948, Lester Piggott rode his first winner. He was 12, weighed less than 5-stone and stood only 4-foot 6-inches tall! pic.twitter.com/CZl4FY382q
— Sports & Betting History by BestBettingSites (@CDCHistory) May 23, 2022
Piggott earned the nickname “The Long Fellow” because of his 5-foot, 8-inch height, The Guardian reported. Piggott spawned a new “shorter” race-riding style with pulled-up stirrup leathers, which changed the art of jockeyship, according to the news outlet.
Piggott notched his first victory at the English Derby in 1954 aboard Never Say Die and won his ninth title in 1983 on Teenoso, the news outlet reported.
He was sentenced to prison for three years in 1987 after he was convicted of tax fraud, the BBC reported. He was released after a year and a day due to good behavior.
“We always tried to aspire to be like him and none of us can do it,” current jockey Frankie Dettori told the AP. “I am not old enough to remember him riding when he was in his peak but, I’m talking as a professional jockey, we all grew up wanting to be like him.”
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