Lester was never known for either smiling or showing any emotion after a win , but here he is all smiles and that says so much , he knew he had literally achieved the IMPOSSIBLE and it was also a kind of revenge two fingers at the authorities
I remember this. I was a massive fan. He was phenomenal. On the home turn, Royal Academy lost his momentum for some reason; Lester reckoned he took a false step; but to be able to pick him up, regain the stride and move him to win by a neck was incredible. I have ridden a horse who stumbles mid-canter - it was truely hairy and i thought I would come off. He performed the impossible and made it look everyday. That is genius and he is a Legend...
When Vincent O'Brian was intereviewed once he remarked that Lester was as comfortable sitting in the saddle as anyone else would be sat in an armchair. People forget how dry and amusing he was too, especially at interviews. He would always crack me up.
Lester had the most fantastic driving finish that no other jockey on this planet had. I watched him in his late 50's, extricate himself in a cramped field and weave his way to a blistering victory on a 7/1 horse named Delage, in Chennai,India, to lift the Indian Turf Invitation cup run over 2400 metres. To him victory was everything.
I was there. The year was 1991. That ride on Delage, a rather smaller one than the others, was totally astonishing. He came from way back I think to pip the front runners before the post.
I can't think of any other jockey that could have won that race. Lester knew exactly how to run that race and that's why Vincent O'brien wanted him on Royal Academy. One genius teaming up with another genius what a combination!
Not knocking Lester or the ride but plenty of other jockeys would have won on the horse, as it's far more about the horses than the jockeys. You heard the same kind of comments when Fallon won the Derby on Kris Kin or Dettori won the Arc on Golden Horn.
If a scriptwriter had written this story of a 54 year old ex-con coming back just a few days after making a return to the saddle,to win one of the most prestigious races of the year,it would have been considered too far fetched. Of course,this man performed miracles on horseback for more than forty years! I had the great pleasure of spending a while in his company at an Injured jockeys night at Walthamstow Stadium about 25 years ago. It was a fascinating insight into the life of a true legend. I asked him why he had returned to the saddle and he looked straight at me and said: "I've never found anything that thrills me more than riding in horse races!" As some other comments have pointed out here,this guy became a legend in his own lifetime, and his unbelievably long career is testament to his talent and dedication.
back in the day as a young man there were two sportsmen who kept me glued to the tv.on was the late great Severiano Ballesteros and the greatest jockey of all time Lester Piggott.one has passed away all too soon and the other has retired now and both these sports are poorer for it.
grow up hearing bout piggott to young to remember him in his prime but remember his comeback he rode in veterans race in Tipperary one night and lester and vi cent signed my racecard big trill at time but the ride he gave in breeders cup from terrible break was breathtaking to see him in full flow that last furlong and that horse barely got a mile must have been pleasure to see him in his hayday
The word legend is banded around a bit to much for my liking but this man was exceptional and of course I had the pleasure to share a few of his thoughts from time to time.Legend
John Reid was another great Jockey , one of the best , but in all honesty i don't think he would have won on Royal Academy only Lester could have done that and at 54yo back riding a week , it was meant to be one of the most incredible moments that horse racing has provided, and of course the old alliance reunited Piggott/O'Brien made it extra special
Lester had a speech impediment of which he was always self conscious of which is why he never said much.Just sit back and watch the genius that is Lester Piggott
Lester's wife went to visit him in prison and he gave her the name of a horse and told her to back it for him. When she asked if he wanted to pay the tax on his stake, he replied: "No don't bother, I'll just do another week in here".
He was a convicted tax evader who served time in prison even got his OBE taken away from him ...... and then still trying to evade paying tax he moved to Switzerland ........ thats how i`l remember Piggott ............ A TAX EVADER
John Rees, You could say that (truthfully) about the "city of London'; however few of those guys could sit on a horse. It is about 'credit" where it's due.
The word legend is banded around a bit to much for my liking but this man was exceptional and of course I had the pleasure to share a few of his thoughts from time to time.Legend
RIP Lester..you were magnificent and will never be forgotten..
Lester was never known for either smiling or showing any emotion after a win , but here he is all smiles and that says so much , he knew he had literally achieved the IMPOSSIBLE and it was also a kind of revenge two fingers at the authorities
The Irish would have never sent Lester to jail,Lester and Vincent are two Legends
He summed it up perfectly " you never forget" and we will never forget him.
Just Breath taking there will never be anyone like him again 🐴
A legend in his own lifetime. Pure genius
Lester was the greatest jockey who ever sat on a racehorse. He has no equal and never will.
Kinane and Fallon were as good.
The greatest jockey that ever lived. Rodrigo de Triano was another superb ride
I remember this. I was a massive fan. He was phenomenal. On the home turn, Royal Academy lost his momentum for some reason; Lester reckoned he took a false step; but to be able to pick him up, regain the stride and move him to win by a neck was incredible. I have ridden a horse who stumbles mid-canter - it was truely hairy and i thought I would come off. He performed the impossible and made it look everyday. That is genius and he is a Legend...
When Vincent O'Brian was intereviewed once he remarked that Lester was as comfortable sitting in the saddle as anyone else would be sat in an armchair. People forget how dry and amusing he was too, especially at interviews. He would always crack me up.
28 years later I remember this race as if it was yesterday - and I didn't even have a bet!
you never forget do you! what a wonderful quote from the Genius
RIP Lester truly the greatest of all time 🐎 ❤️
Worth 7lbs every time he rode.
lester not just the greatest ever jockey but our greatest ever sportsman
0:09 I'm thinking 'Nah, he can't win from there' but Lester timed it to perfection.
Lester had the most fantastic driving finish that no other jockey on this planet had. I watched him in his late 50's, extricate himself in a cramped field and weave his way to a blistering victory on a 7/1 horse named Delage, in Chennai,India, to lift the Indian Turf Invitation cup run over 2400 metres. To him victory was everything.
I was there. The year was 1991. That ride on Delage, a rather smaller one than the others, was totally astonishing. He came from way back I think to pip the front runners before the post.
ruclips.net/video/lRUaMZtgjso/видео.html
I can't think of any other jockey that could have won that race.
Lester knew exactly how to run that race and that's why Vincent O'brien wanted him on Royal Academy.
One genius teaming up with another genius what a combination!
Not knocking Lester or the ride but plenty of other jockeys would have won on the horse, as it's far more about the horses than the jockeys.
You heard the same kind of comments when Fallon won the Derby on Kris Kin or Dettori won the Arc on Golden Horn.
The thing that won that race was perfect timing. That’s some skill.
If a scriptwriter had written this story of a 54 year old ex-con coming back just a few days after making a return to the saddle,to win one of the most prestigious races of the year,it would have been considered too far fetched. Of course,this man performed miracles on horseback for more than forty years! I had the great pleasure of spending a while in his company at an Injured jockeys night at Walthamstow Stadium about 25 years ago. It was a fascinating insight into the life of a true legend. I asked him why he had returned to the saddle and he looked straight at me and said: "I've never found anything that thrills me more than riding in horse races!" As some other comments have pointed out here,this guy became a legend in his own lifetime, and his unbelievably long career is testament to his talent and dedication.
From gg's commentary to Broughs astonishment..pure gold ❤
The greatest jockey the world will ever see. A genius.
back in the day as a young man there were two sportsmen who kept me glued to the tv.on was the late great Severiano Ballesteros and the greatest jockey of all time Lester Piggott.one has passed away all too soon and the other has retired now and both these sports are poorer for it.
The best jockey ever no one even comes close perfect thanks cosmic
I think that’s the happiest Lester has ever looked.
R.I.P. Lester Piggott The greatest jockey of all time.
A master of the race finish. This is worth repeated viewing by ANY fan of "The Sport of
Kings",. Thrilling stuff.
The most remarkable race with the most remarkable jockey. Even the American crowd knew who the great Lester was.
54 years of age some achievement to ride like that at that age and win.
CLASS ! FOREVER, EVEN IN HEAVEN 😇🇬🇧
majestic, what a man. steel will and determination to achieve. not many around like that now in any walk of life.
So much to be said about this race but for me this just defines jockeyship at it’s purest.
Royal Academy
(February 21, 1987 - February 22, 2012)
* Sire: Nijinsky
* Grandsire: Northern Dancer
* Dam: Crimson Saint
* Damsire: Crimson Satan
* Sex: Stallion
* Breeder: Tim Gentry
* Owner: Classic Thoroughbred Pic
* Trainer: Vincent O´Brien (R.I.P.)
* 7 Starts
* 4 Wins
* 2 Seconds
* 0 Third
* $ 724,167 earned (Current $ 1,495,849)
* Rest In Peace, Champion!
* Greetings from Venezuela
Royal Academy
(21 de Febrero, 1987 - 22 de Febrero, 2012)
* Padree: Nijinsky
* Abuelo paterno: Northern Dancer
* Madre: Crimson Saint
* Abuelo paterno: Crimson Satan
* Sexo: Semental
* Criador: Tim Gentry
* Propietario: Classic Thoroughbred Pic
* Entrenador: Vincent O´Brien (R.I.P.)
* 7 Salidas
* 4 Primeros
* 2 Segundos
* 0 Tercero
* $ 724,167 producidos ($ 1,495,849 actuales)
* ¡Descansa En Paz, Campeón!
* Saludos desde Venezuela
grow up hearing bout piggott to young to remember him in his prime but remember his comeback he rode in veterans race in Tipperary one night and lester and vi cent signed my racecard big trill at time but the ride he gave in breeders cup from terrible break was breathtaking to see him in full flow that last furlong and that horse barely got a mile must have been pleasure to see him in his hayday
Rip my old time legend
Phenomenal 🏇🏇🏇Phenomenon 🏇🏇🏇💯Be King Lester🏇🏇🏇GRH👏👏👏🙏
Amazing career for a jockey 5 ft8.5 to ride at 103 lbs for almost 45 yrs a true legend.
This was easy for Lester. He just imagined the finishing post was the main gates of Highpoint nick! RIP Lester, the greatest.
The word legend is banded around a bit to much for my liking but this man was exceptional and of course I had the pleasure to share a few of his thoughts from time to time.Legend
The most memorable ride from Lester ,.. GG
Brilliant jockey and a very good horse. Lester piggott was a class act a legend.
what a legend!
perfectly timed. any other jock riding RA would have gotten him beaten...
HE'S PARKED BUS AND LEFT PAVILION.
Usually you see milers drop back to sprinting, but not often you see a Group 1 sprint horse then step up to a mile. VOB was on another level.
The best ever
Top man....
that race was an antidote for what happened in the race before the Mile the Breeders Cup distaff
Did you see the one on pebbles?
John Reid was another great Jockey , one of the best , but in all honesty i don't think he would have won on Royal Academy only Lester could have done that and at 54yo back riding a week , it was meant to be one of the most incredible moments that horse racing has provided, and of course the old alliance reunited Piggott/O'Brien made it extra special
RIP
Who else could do that? Ever?
Greatest of all time
Don't forget as a youngster he rode winners over jumps.
Good call, lol namely the champion hurdle no one achieved that unlikely of all double the derby too purely magnificent magnetic lestor was 😇
Im 50 and cant work a clothes horse ffs
R.I.P.
good old lester.....trouble was.... I never understood a word he said.
Lester had a speech impediment of which he was always self conscious of which is why he never said much.Just sit back and watch the genius that is Lester Piggott
Michael Bath neither did the tax man
Great ride i went to the track just to have a ten dollars on him good ride
Piggot & O'Brien rolling back the years,
and i think that was a future NH champion Charlie Swann cheering him home..?????
No, it’s a young Charles O’ Brien,, Vincent’s son.
Was this filmed on a potato
REALLY?????
passions involving money,all ways get corrupted.the ansure my friend,is blowing in the wind.
NO . VINCENT O BRIEN MASTER TRAINER
Only piggott desert orchid and this man got my love affair with racing stuffed the yanks
Lester Keith Pigott
(November 5, 1935 - May 29, 2022)
* 4,493 Wins
* Height: 5 feet 8 inches
* Weight: 117 pounds
* British flat racing Champion Jockey 1960, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1981 & 1982 🏇
* Empson Derby Wins 1954, 1957, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1976, 1977 & 1983 🏇
* 2,000 Guineas Wins 1957, 1968, 1970, 1985 & 1992 🏇
* 1,000 Guineas Wins 1970 & 1981 🏇
* Empson Oaks Wins 1957, 1959, 1966, 1975, 1981 & 1984
* Saint Leger Stakes Wins 1960, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1984
* 1970 British Triple Crown Winner / Nijinsky 🏇
* 1990 Breeder´s Cup Mile Winner / Royal Academy 🏇
* Inducted to The British Champion Series Hall of Fame in 2021 🏇
* Order of the British Empire in 1975 (OBE) 🏇
* Rest In Peace, Champion! We´ll always remember you!
* Best regards from Venezuela
Lester Keith Pigott
(5 de Noviembre, 1935 - 29 de Mayo, 2022)
* 4.493 Primeros
* Estatura: 1,73 metros
* Peso: 53 kilos
* Jinete Campeón de carreras planas en Gran Bretaña 1960, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1981 & 1982 🏇
* Derby de Empson 1954, 1957, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1976, 1977 & 1983 🏇
* 2.000 Guineas 1957, 1968, 1970, 1985 & 1992 🏇
* 1.000 Guineas 1970 & 1981 🏇
* Saint Leger Stakes 1960, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972 & 1984
* Empson Oaks 1957, 1959, 1966, 1975, 1981 & 1984
* Ganador de la Triple Corona Británica 1970 / Nijinsky 🏇
* Ganador de la Copa de Criadores Milla 1990 / Royal Academy 🏇
* Exaltado al Museo de la Fama de los Campeones Británicos en 2021 🏇
* Orden del Imperio Británico en 1975 (OBE) 🏇
* ¡Descansa En Paz, Campeón! ¡Siempre te recordaremos!
* Saludos desde Venezuela
Lester's wife went to visit him in prison and he gave her the name of a horse and told her to back it for him. When she asked if he wanted to pay the tax on his stake, he replied:
"No don't bother, I'll just do another week in here".
NEVER!!
He was a convicted tax evader who served time in prison even got his OBE taken away from him ...... and then still trying to evade paying tax he moved to Switzerland ........ thats how i`l remember Piggott ............ A TAX EVADER
John Rees, You could say that (truthfully) about the "city of London'; however few of those guys could sit on a horse. It is about 'credit" where it's due.
I was a Steve Cauthen Guy. Still the best to ride IMO. Pat Eddery 2nd, Lester 3rd.
Hope you are off the drugs now
Everyone just wanted Lester Piggott to win a breeder's cup race. Pat would have made it look easy.
pat eddery was a great just remember lester would have won the derby on el gran secreto
Piggott needs to work on his diction.
Lester was partially deaf, hence the speech impediment.
Looks like he can't work on it anymore.
The word legend is banded around a bit to much for my liking but this man was exceptional and of course I had the pleasure to share a few of his thoughts from time to time.Legend