Lester Piggott R.I.P.

[Lither_1927]

Inappropriate time for the old chestnut?..........Which criminal rode a Derby winner?.............Lester Piggott’s cellmate day

I think you know it's too soon

[Cowbridge Blue]

I was very much into racing as a young man and - his tax evasion antics apart - have nothing but admiration and awe at Piggott's career.

He was absolutely single-minded and fearless in his pursuit of winners and his domination as a rider of big race winners changed the way owners and trainers behaved when it came to the 5 English classics races. Horses (particularly 3 year-old colts) can generate huge sums of money as sires after their racing days are over but in order to do so, they need to win their one and only shot at winning a Derby or a Guineas; their reputation is made or lost in those few minutes of glory and owners and trainers therefore wanted THE BEST, the most certain way of ensuring no mistakes were made by a jockey making a mis-judgment.

For a generation or more, Piggott made a career and a fortune from 'jocking-off' rival, stable-retained riders when it came to getting on board the big winners. Basically, he had the choice of which horse to ride no matter how much it would upset others. It was extremely controversial at the time but he didn't care. Here's his classics record in nutshell: http://en.espn.co.uk/blogs/sport/story/256885.html

And here's an example of his mastery riding Royal Academy at the 1990 Breeder's Cup in U.S.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6tdQXkAu6Y

Finally, a 5 minute documentary of the world's greatest jockey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-ey-wdS7XI

R.I.P Lester from an admirer