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'It was quite a bad punishment, wasn't it? It was almost inhumane'

Lester Piggott pictured after the 1984 St Leger
Lester Piggott pictured after the 1984 St Leger

Miss me?

Piggott to the Coolmore team, his former employers, after his replacement Pat Eddery was beaten on El Gran Senor by Secreto in the 1984 Derby

You never forget

Lester after galvanising Royal Academy in the Breeders’ Cup Mile just 12 days after returning to the saddle at the age of 54

That was an unfortunate incident really, that day I thought he was beaten when I took his whip off him. He started jumping about on his horse without a whip and he didn’t drop out, he stayed where he was and finished third.

Lester explains his rationale for stealing Alain Lequeux’s whip during the closing stages of the 1979 Grand Prix de Deauville, action which the French stewards took a dim view of

I think I only had three rides at that meeting and they all won. I was a bit heavy then you know

Lester recalls the 1957 Derby and Oaks double with Crepello and the Queen’s Carrozza

I couldn’t believe it, he was running away

Lester moments after Teenoso became his ninth Derby winner in 1983

I didn't use the whip much on Roberto. I couldn't, the other horses were too close to me. Not until the last 50 yards, that was about all. The Minstrel, I had to ride him hard too. I'd probably have got a week now

Lester reflects on the frantic battle between Roberto and Rheingold in the 1972 Derby, and on changing attitudes to the whip in a 2011 interview with Brian Viner

You could get away with a lot more when I was riding because there weren't so many cameras everywhere

Lester reflects on changes in riding styles in an interview with Steve Dennis

I think the stewards were looking for a chance to teach me a lesson, I'd had four or five bans already and I think they wanted to get me. It was quite a bad punishment, wasn't it? It was almost inhumane

Lester looks back at the six-month ban he received for a controversial ride aboard Never Say Die at Royal Ascot

It seemed easier to say yes. I didn't want to get into a long discussion about it y'know

Lester on the time he replied yes, on being asked if he was Wilson Pickett

That's bad luck for your old man

Lester Piggott to Walter Swinburn, having jocked off his father Walter Swinburn snr on Oaks winner Blue Wind

That's my bad ear, try the other side

Piggott on being asked by a racegoer if he can spare £5

Perhaps you'd better try the £5 ear again

Piggott after the same racegoer asked for a tenner in the other ear

Two weeks ago

Piggott, when asked at what point he thought he'd win the 1969 Washington DC International on Karabas

A massive waste of time with absolutely nothing to show for it at the end

Piggott on the year and a day he spent in prison after being convicted for tax evasion

I've had worse injuries falling out of bed

Piggott to his old pal Sir Peter O'Sullevan after suffering a fractured collarbone, broken ribs, damaged spleen and partially collapsed lung after Mr Brooks's fatal fall in the 1992 Breeders' Cup Sprint

Nijinsky was one of those horses you could win on really easily yet - and this is hard to understand - he never felt as good to ride as he actually was

Piggott on his Triple Crown hero in a 2011 interview with Alastair Down


Do you have a favourite Lester Piggott story?

We're collating our readers' best stories about the great man and will publish a selection at a later date. If you would like to contribute, please email editor@racingpost.com with the subject 'Lester'


Lester Piggott:

Lester Piggott, legendary jockey and nine-time Derby winner, dies aged 86

Obituary: child prodigy who blossomed into a riding legend and statesman

The remarkable facts and figures behind Lester Piggott's career

Lester Piggott Q&A: a brilliant interview with the record-breaking champion

Appreciation: 'His cut-throat mentality was unmatched in the history of the turf'

'He was my idol growing up' - Mick Kinane on his admiration for Lester Piggott

Aidan O'Brien: 'Incredible man' Lester Piggott left unbelievable mark on us all

Racecourse brilliance and quieter moments: Lester Piggott in photographs

'Lester went wrong way round a roundabout to pass me! No wonder he was champion'

Nine Derbys, 30 British Classics and winners worldwide - Lester by the numbers

Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 29 May 2022inNews

Last updated 10:02, 30 May 2022

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