The greatest jockey the world has ever known, Lester Keith Piggott, passed away peacefully, aged 86, on Sunday 29th May 2022. Lester had 4,493 career wins, including a record nine Epsom Derby victories and 30 classics. He famously rode legendary Singapore trainer Ivan Allan’s Commanche Run to win the St Leger in 1984. Lester also rode the mighty Jumbo Jet to win the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Singapore in 1972, which Ivan trained.
Lester rode Lee Ah Siong’s Jumbo Jet in the Washington DC International, Singapore’s first ever international runner, but was brought down by a fallen horse during the race. Lester said Jumbo Jet was only cantering, and would have won.
I met Lester on a couple of occasions, in the jockey’s changing room at the Bukit Timah racecourse, when I was riding in amateur races and he in the Pro races on Pro/Am racedays. Lester certainly lived up to his reputation as a man of few words, though he did visit my Xanthus Thoroughbred saddlery shop, and signed a video of himself for me.
Lester was not just a brilliant jockey. Lester was a genius. Part of his genius is that he spawned a generation of jockeys who tried to emulate his ultra-short riding style, to their detriment.
At 5 ft 8 in, he was very tall for a jockey. Nicknamed ‘The Long Fellow,’ Lester was always battling his weight. He lived on cigars. Lester would drive to race meetings in sweat suits with the heat turned up, to try to sweat off any excess weight. Extremely competitive, and famously controversial, Lester was convicted for tax fraud and served time behind bars. He is said to have been a favorite in jail as he quietly tipped winners to the other prisoners.
Making a comeback to race-riding in 1984, Lester won the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Royal Academy within ten days of his return.
In England, the annual jockey awards are called The Lesters, named in his honour.
Thanks to Chris Joseph and Phillip Wee for these images of Lester at the old Singapore Turf Club’s Bukit Timah Racecourse.
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