Lester Piggott

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bonzosbeard
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Lester Piggott

Post by bonzosbeard »

Famous Jockey.Died today. RiP.

To be honest I thought he passed years ago.
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Re: Lester Piggott

Post by The Old Man of Storr »

Years ago when we lived in Potters Bar I entered a Tennents Lager competition -

Out of all 9 Lester Piggott Derby Winners I had to pick which horses finished 1-2-3 and add a slogan concerning Tennents Lager .

I sent off the answer on a scrap of paper and never expected to hear anything back -

I won a biography of Lester Piggott written by Dick Francis and signed by the Greatest Jockey who ever lived .

I still have it .

RIP Lester .


p.s.

My answer was -

1st. Nijinsky
2nd. Crepello
3rd. Sir Ivor
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Re: Lester Piggott

Post by The Old Man of Storr »

The 1954 Derby - Pathe News - Never Say Die 33/1

There's something wonderfully reassuring about these old Pathe News commentaries .

Note The Jellied Eels Stall at the beginning , no kebabs or pizzas back in those days .

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Re: Lester Piggott

Post by -DL- »

bonzosbeard wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 9:55 am To be honest I thought he passed years ago.
When I heard the news in the car earlier, I thought the same.

Cracking jockey though - despite his little holiday in Highpoint Nick.
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Re: Lester Piggott

Post by Chicken Run Supreme »

I was surprised that he was still only 86 tbh, I thought he was well into his 90s.
A fantastic jockey who was still riding when I developed a keen interest in the Sport of Kings. My Dad introduced me to horse racing and he would always follow Piggott’s horses and I can remember my Dad cheering The Minstrel all the way home in The Derby. In those days the Epsom Derby was on a Wednesday afternoon and was all the better for it rather than it’s Saturday fixture nowadays.
I was too young to remember Nijinsky’s Triple Crown but have seen all three races countless times over the years and to watch Piggott steer Nijinsky to victory at Epsom is truly a joy to behold. Obviously Nijinsky was a supreme racehorse but Lester held Nijinsky back and barely got out of second gear, he was at one with the horse and when he had to, he gave a nudge and Nijinsky just eased to the front and coasted in.
Famously frugal, there’s a great anecdote on BBC website’s obituary from a jockey’s valet who whispered in his ear, “Lester, can you lend me £5?” Piggott indicated he could not hear, so he whispered in his other ear:”Can you lend me £10?” to which Piggott replied:”Try the £5 ear again.”
He was only 12 years old when he had his first victory and just 18 when, on Never Say Die, he won the Derby for the first time. He won The Derby a record 9 times and had 30 Classic wins in total, records unlikely to ever be beaten.
He was the greatest jockey I’ve ever seen.

RIP Long Fellow
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Re: Lester Piggott

Post by Shabu »

Even though it wouldn't be allowed today, the old joke....

"Who was the first black man to ride a Derby winner?"

....did crack me up back in the day.
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Re: Lester Piggott

Post by last.caress »

bonzosbeard wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 9:55 am To be honest I thought he passed years ago.
-DL- wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 6:37 pm When I heard the news in the car earlier, I thought the same.
Yup, would've been prepared to swear he was long gone already.. RIP, nonetheless.
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Re: Lester Piggott

Post by ageing hammer »

bonzosbeard wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 9:55 am Famous Jockey.Died today. RiP.

To be honest I thought he passed years ago.
Nobody ever passed the Piggott :rofl:
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Re: Lester Piggott

Post by The Old Man of Storr »

The Epsom Derby is being run in memory of Lester Piggott today -

Seeing Steve Cauthen dressed in the Queen's colours today brought back memories - he was brought to the UK by Henry Cecil as a replacement for Lester - I actually backed the first horse he ever rode in England , Marquee Universal - I went down to the grubby old Bookmaker's in Hatfield and stuck a £5 on him to win .
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