Lester Piggott was an English professional jockey.
Piggott boasts of 4,493 career wins, including a record nine Epsom Derby victories.
Piggott’s records makes him widely regarded as one of the greatest flat racing jockeys of all time and the originator of a much imitated style.
Popularly called “The Long Fellow”, Piggott was known for his competitive personality, keeping himself 30 lb (14 kg) under his natural weight, and on occasion overusing the whip, such as on Roberto in the 1972 Derby.
Of his great winners, Piggott regarded Sir Ivor as the easiest to ride.
Piggott retired as a jockey at the end of the 1985 flat season and became a trainer and his Eve Lodge stables in Newmarket in Suffolk, housed 97 horses and sent out 34 winners.
Piggott’s burgeoning new career as a trainer was ended when he was convicted of tax fraud and jailed.
Sadly, Piggott died in hospital in Switzerland on 29 May 2022 at the age of 86.
Was Lester Piggott Deaf?
Piggott was deaf.
Throughout his career and until his death, Piggott was known for his solitary nature.
Unknown to many, Piggott was partially deaf and his partial deafness played a huge role in his solitary nature.