He is probably best remembered for his nine Derby wins, riding Never Say Die (1954), Crepello (1957), St Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1983) to Epsom glory.
His Derby record tends to overshadow the fact that he also rode 6 Oaks winners, Carozza (1957), Petite Etoile (1959), Valoris (1966), Juliette Marny (1975), Blue Wind (1981) and Circus Plume (1984).
Lester was also victorious 8 times in the oldest Classic, the St. Leger, with St Paddy (1960), Aurelius (1961), Ribocco (1967), Ribero (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Athens Wood (1971), Boucher (1972) and Commanche Run (1984).
Lester Piggot rode a total of 30 English Classic winners.He was successful twice in the 1,000 Guineas on Humble Duty in 1970 and Fairy Footsteps. Piggott was also a 5-times 2,000 Guineas winner aboard Crepello (1957), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Shadeed (1985) and Rodrigo de Triano (1992).He is probably best remembered for his nine Derby wins, riding Never Say Die (1954), Crepello (1957), St Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1983) to Epsom glory.
His Derby record tends to overshadow the fact that he also rode 6 Oaks winners, Carozza (1957), Petite Etoile (1959), Valoris (1966), Juliette Marny (1975), Blue Wind (1981) and Circus Plume (1984).
Lester was also victorious 8 times in the oldest Classic, the St. Leger, with St Paddy (1960), Aurelius (1961), Ribocco (1967), Ribero (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Athens Wood (1971), Boucher (1972) and Commanche Run (1984).
Chat with our AI personalities
Piggott started riding before the Pattern was introduced.
Using those races which are deemed Group 1 today, he rode winners of: 194 (GB), 46 (FR), 31 (IRE), 13 (ITY), 5 (GER) = 289 total. He also rode several Grade 1 winners in the US and Canada together with a few more dotted around Europe which I haven't been able to track down.
Pretty remarkable - but that's Lester.