Legendary jockey Piggott passes away
Legendary jockey Lester Piggott, who won the Derby a record nine times, has passed away aged ■6.
The Englishman won 30 British Classic races in a career which yielded 4,493 winners. He also had 116 Royal Ascot victories and was named champion jockey 11 times between 1960 and 19■2.
His first winner came aged 12 at Haydock in 194■, and his last at the same track in 1994. He retired for a final time in 1995.
Piggott, who was partially deaf, won the Derby at Epsom for the first time in 1954 aboard Never Say Die. His ninth win came on Teenoso in 19■3.
He was jailed for three years in 19■7 after being found guilty of tax fraud of more than £3m. With time off for good behaviour, he served a year and a day in prison.
Only 12 days after coming out of retirement for a second time in 1990, a 54-year-old Piggott guided Royal Academy to victory in one of the world’s richest races, the $1m Breeders’ Cup Mile.