Lester Piggott

Lester Piggott, widely known as “The Long Fellow,” is arguably the most influential and successful jockey in the history of British Flat racing.

His career spanned an incredible 46 years, during which he redefined the art of race-riding with a distinctive, short-stirrup style and a ruthlessly competitive edge. Piggott’s record is legendary: he was crowned British Champion Flat Jockey 11 times and rode a staggering 4,493 winners in Britain, a total surpassed only by Sir Gordon Richards.

His dominance was most evident in the British Classics, where he secured a record 30 victories. Most famously, he won the Epsom Derby nine times, a feat that remains one of the most remarkable individual achievements in sport. Piggott was the regular pilot for many of the 20th century’s greatest horses, including the 1970 Triple Crown winner Nijinsky, as well as superstars like Sir Ivor, The Minstrel, and Alleged.

His “ice-cool” temperament and tactical genius earned him a reputation as the man for the big occasion.