They’re off..Piggott’s flogging his trophies
Jockey Lester, 84, puts spoils of his career up for sale
RACING icon Lester Piggott is hoping to earn £80,000 by auctioning off his trophies and personal items.
Lester, 84, was crowned champion jockey 11 times and is regarded as one of the greatest ever flat-racing riders.
He has now put 70 lots up for sale after having a big clear-out. His 1957 and 1960 Epsom Derby winner’s trophies are expected to fetch at least £7,000 each.
The sale also features trophies won by his father Keith and grandfather Ernie.
Auctioneer Graham Budd said: “Lester is now in his 80s and is at that stage in his life where he has accumulated a wealth of stuff from his career and is sorting out what to keep and what to let go.
“There are nearly 70 items
in the sale and the nice thing is this includes items from his family, which has been involved in racing since Victorian times, with his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
“I do not normally like to use the description but Lester is a living legend.”
Lester, below, known as the “Longfellow” due to his 5ft 8in frame, , won nine Epsom Derbiess, Derbies, five 2000 Guineass Guineas and
two 1000 Guineas. Guui
One of his most notable victories came in the 1954 Epsom Derby when he romped home on the 33/1 outsider Never Say Die.
Aged just 18 Lester was the youngest jockey to win the prestigious race.
Also on sale are his 1957 and 1960 Epsom Derby winner’s trophies and 2000 Guineas prize from 1985, which has been valued at £2,500.
Ascot Gold Cups from 1957 and 1963 will go under the hammer alongside other awards to acknowledge his 4,493 career wins. The Lifetime Achievement in Sport award presented by BBC TV Sport has an estimate of £1,500 and his racing goggles may go for £150.
Less well-known are Lester’s horseracing forebears. The 1963 Grand National trophy awarded to his father Keith, who trained winner Ayala, is expected to fetch £10,000. Grandfather Ernie’s 1919 Grand National trophy should sell for the same amount.
Lester retired from racing for the first time in 1985 and two years later was jailed for tax fraud. He moved to Switzerland with his new partner in 2012.
The sale takes place on November 9 at Graham Budd Auctions in London.
This includes items from his family, which have been racing since Victorian times
GRAHAM BUDD AUCTIONEER IN CHARGE OF THE SALE