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The remarkable facts and figures behind Lester Piggott's glittering career

Lester Piggott at Newmarket to celebrate the 200th running of the 2000 Guineas
Lester Piggott: won the Derby nine times in an unrivalled career in the saddleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Full name Lester Keith Piggott

Born Wantage, Berkshire, November 5, 1935

Family Parents: Keith Piggott (1904-93) and Iris (1905-87), daughter of Fred Rickaby senior. Wife: Susan (married 1960), daughter of Sam Armstrong. Daughters: Maureen (born 1961, wife of William Haggas), Tracy (born 1965). Also son Jamie (born 1993) with Anna Ludlow

Apprenticed to Keith Piggott, Lambourn 1948-53

First mount The Chase (unplaced) Salisbury, April 7, 1948

First winner The Chase, Haydock, August 18, 1948

Lost claim Zina, Brighton Autumn Cup, Brighton, September 20, 1950

First Group-class winner Holmbush (1950 Jockey Club Stakes)

First Group 1-class winner Mystery (1951 Eclipse Stakes)

First Classic mount Manhattan (unplaced, 1951 2,000 Guineas)

First Derby mount Zucchero (13th, 1951)

First Royal Ascot winner Malka’s Boy (1952 Wokingham)

First Classic winner Never Say Die (1954 Derby)


Click here for a detailed infographic of Lester Piggott's remarkable achievements


First winner for The Queen Annie Oakley, Newmarket, September 29, 1955

First winner in France Patras, Prix Saint-Roman, Longchamp, October 9, 1955

First winner in Ireland Rise Above, Phoenix Park, August 9, 1958

Nijinsky and Lester Piggott after winning the 1970 Derby
Nijinsky and Lester Piggott after winning the 1970 Derby

First double Folkestone, August 14, 1950

First treble Warwick, October 13, 1950

First 4-timer Doncaster, June 26, 1959

First 5-timer Pontefract, July 19, 1963

First mount over jumps Tangle (unplaced) Kempton, November 27, 1953

First winner over jumps Eldoret, Wincanton, December 26, 1953

Cheltenham Festival winner Mull Sack (1954 Birdlip Selling Hurdle)

Biggest winner over jumps Prince Charlemagne (1954 Triumph Hurdle)

Last winner and mount over jumps Jive, Sandown, February 18, 1959

Triple Crown winner Nijinsky (1970)

Derby winners 9 (record): Never Say Die (1954), Crepello (1957), St Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1983)

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners 7 (record): Meadow Court (1965), Aunt Edith (1966), Park Top (1969), Nijinsky (1970), Dahlia (1974), The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1984)

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners Rheingold (1973), Alleged (1977, 1978)

Washington DC International winners Sir Ivor (1968), Karabas (1969), Argument (1980)

Breeders’ Cup winner/Richest win Royal Academy (1990 Mile) ?279,503

Grand Prix de Paris winners Roll Of Honour (1970), Sagaro (1974)

Prix du Jockey Club winner Hard To Beat (1972)

Irish Derby winners Meadow Court (1965), Ribocco (1967), Ribero (1968), The Minstrel (1977), Shergar (1981)

Deutsches Derby winners Orsini (1957), Fanfar (1963), Luciano (1967)

Derby Italiano winners Bonconte Di Montefeltro (1969), Cerreto (1973), Welnor (1984)

2,000 Guineas winners Crepello (1957), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Shadeed (1985), Rodrigo De Triano (1992)

1,000 Guineas winners Humble Duty (1970), Fairy Footsteps (1981)

Oaks winners Carrozza (1957), Petite Etoile (1959), Valoris (1966), Juliette Marny (1975), Blue Wind (1981), Circus Plume (1984)

St Leger winners St Paddy (1960), Aurelius (1961), Ribocco (1967), Ribero (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Athens Wood (1971), Boucher (1972), Commanche Run (1984)

Ascot Gold Cup wins 11 (record): Zarathustra (1957), Gladness (1958), Pandofell (1961), Twilight Alley (1963), Fighting Charlie (1965), Sagaro (1975, 1976, 1977), Le Moss (1979), Ardross (1981, 1982)

Champion sprinters Right Boy (1958, 1959), Matatina (1963), Caterina (1966), Green God (1971), Thatch (1973), Saritamer (1974), Solinus (1978), Thatching (1979), Moorestyle (1980)

Most notable walkover Tin Whistle (1960 July Cup)

Most notable dead heat Swingtime (1975 Diadem Stakes)

Most prolific Pattern winner Ardross, 11 wins 1981-82

Most prolific winner in a season Karabas, 8 wins 1969

Won with most overweight It’s The Finish, Newcastle, July 27, 1970 (14lb overweight)

1,000th Flat win in Britain Cherambsca, Leicester, September 19, 1960

2,000th Flat win in Britain Coonbeam, Leicester, July 25, 1967

3,000th Flat win in Britain Roussalka, Princess Margaret Stakes, Ascot, July 27, 1974

4,000th Flat win in Britain Ardross, Geoffrey Freer Stakes, Newbury, August 14, 1982

Last winner before first retirement Full Choke, Nottingham, October 29, 1985

First winner after comeback Nicholas, Chepstow, October 16, 1990

Last winner for The Queen Desert Lore, Bath, May 17, 1993

Last Royal Ascot winner College Chapel (1993 Cork and Orrery Stakes)

Last Classic winner Zimzalabim (1993 Slovenske Derby)

Last Group 1 winner Lemon Souffle (1993 Moyglare Stud Stakes)

Last Derby mount Khamaseen (5th, 1994)

Last Group winner in Britain Lemon Souffle (1994 Falmouth Stakes)

Last Group winner Bin Ajwaad (1994 Desmond Stakes)

Last winner in Britain Palacegate Jack, Haydock, October 5, 1994

Last mount in Britain Mr Confusion (21st in November Handicap) Doncaster, November 5, 1994

Lester Piggott wins the 1977 Ascot Gold Cup on Sagaro
Lester Piggott wins the 1977 Ascot Gold Cup on Sagaro

Greatest rides 8 entries (record) in Racing Post series 100 Greatest Rides, 2007, including No.2 (Royal Academy, 1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile), No.8 (The Minstrel, 1977 Derby), No.9 (Roberto, 1972 Derby), No.26 (Ribero, 1968 St Leger)

Champion apprentice 3 times (1950, 1951, 1952)

Champion jockey 11 times (1960, 1964-71, 1981-82); also runner-up 6 times, 3rd 6 times

Most winners on one card 5: Pontefract, July 19, 1963; Leicester, July 19, 1966; York, August 16, 1966; Warwick, September 5, 1966; Curragh, September 6, 1975

Number of British centuries 25

Most wins in a British season 191 in 1966

Most rides in a British season 703 in 1961 (164 wins) and 1981 (179 wins)

Total wins in Britain 4,493 on Flat in 43 seasons, plus 20 over hurdles

Total wins worldwide about 5,300

British Classic wins 30 (record) from 166 rides, including 9 Derbys (record) from 36 rides

Royal Ascot wins 116 (record) 1952-93, including 8 in 1965 and 1975

Stables as trainer Eve Lodge, Newmarket 1986-87

First winner as trainer Geordie’s Delight, Epsom, April 23, 1986

Group winners as trainer Cutting Blade (1986 Coventry Stakes), Lady Bentley (1987 Oaks d’Italia)

Last winner as trainer Kentucky Star, Brighton, September 30, 1987

Total wins as trainer 61 in Britain, plus 10 abroad

Best horses as breeder Cavo Doro (2nd, 1973 Derby); jointly, Superstar Leo (champion 2-Y-O filly 2000)

Best winners as co-owner Mont Etoile (2006 Ribblesdale Stakes), Rivet (2016 Champagne Stakes)

Racing awards Derby Awards (Flat Jockey 1970, 1980, 1981, 1982; Outstanding Achievement 1995), Cartier Award of Merit (1992), Sir Peter O'Sullevan Award (2000)

Other awards OBE (1975, rescinded 1988), Sportsman of the Year (Daily Express award 1968), BBC Sports Personality awards (Special Achievement 1984, 1994; part of Team of the Year 1970 for Nijinsky)


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

In his own words: 'It was quite a bad punishment, wasn't it? It was almost inhumane'

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

John RandallRacing statistician

Published on 29 May 2022inNews

Last updated 17:58, 29 May 2022

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