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Lester Piggott RIP

AFKABartram
AFKABartram Posts: 57,825
edited May 2022 in Not Sports Related
Legendary jockey, 86

Comments

  • Algarveaddick
    Algarveaddick Posts: 21,150
    RIP
  • Gribbo
    Gribbo Posts: 8,484
    RIP
  • alan dugdale
    alan dugdale Posts: 3,076
    RIP. Without doubt, the best ever jockey.
  • alan dugdale
    alan dugdale Posts: 3,076
    Sorry Afka - there are two G’s in the surname. GG - quite appropriate, really !
  • Definitely a true legend. RIP.
  • Valiantphil
    Valiantphil Posts: 6,410
    Great jockey, especially when just a boy in his early career. 
    RIP
  • Addick Addict
    Addick Addict Posts: 39,767
    RIP
  • cfgs
    cfgs Posts: 11,476
    RIP, truly great sportsman
  • guinnessaddick
    guinnessaddick Posts: 28,617
    edited May 2022
    RIP
  • charltonkeston
    charltonkeston Posts: 7,359
    He was the best of his time and arguably the best of all time. I think I’m correct in saying that he was profoundly deaf. With that disability it must have been hard for him in life but to reach the top of the tree like he did was truly exceptional an more so because of when.
    He had his knighthood removed, which I always felt was a mean and spiteful considering some of the scandals that have gone since.
    RIP 
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  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    A genius, but with feet of clay like so many greats.
    RIP.
  • Bangkokaddick
    Bangkokaddick Posts: 4,295
    Must be the most famous jockey of all time. RIP
  • bobmunro
    bobmunro Posts: 20,843
    Another soundtrack of my life gone.

    After coming out of retirement at 55 and winning the Breeders Cup on Royal Academy in 1990 Lester was asked by a journalist "Tell me Lester, is this the greatest day of your racing career?" to which Lester replied "I've won nine Derbies!"

    So many stories, so many memories. I've had the pleasure of spending quality time with the man on a number of occasions discussing his career, and he was one of the funniest men I've ever met - such a dry wit.

    He was the world's best at his sport for 40 odd years and the greatest flat jockey of all time. I would go as far as to say he was the greatest sportsman (any sport) this country has ever produced.

    RIP Legend

  • Pedro45
    Pedro45 Posts: 5,820
    He was simply the best.  Never forget cheering him on at Epsom - COME ON LESTER!!!!! RIP
  • Lincsaddick
    Lincsaddick Posts: 32,348
    records show he was the greatest, apart from paying his taxes .. but being sent to prison ? .. far too harsh ..  R I P
  • Starinnaddick
    Starinnaddick Posts: 4,342
    The word great is a much over used word but Lester was a truly great jockey. There are many wonderful stories about him. After winning a big race in America he was asked at what stage did he think he would win. He replied two weeks ago.
    RIP Longfellow. 
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,619
    A name everyone has heard of. RIP
  • Lincsaddick
    Lincsaddick Posts: 32,348
    Incidentally, Maureen Haggas, wife of the very successful trainer William, is Lester's daughter and is reckoned to be a big influence on William's success .. could be that equine knowledge and expertise is in the Piggott genes, as horse racing has been the family business for generations
  • soapy_jones
    soapy_jones Posts: 21,350
    RIP
  • ROTW
    ROTW Posts: 642
    Incidentally, Maureen Haggas, wife of the very successful trainer William, is Lester's daughter and is reckoned to be a big influence on William's success .. could be that equine knowledge and expertise is in the Piggott genes, as horse racing has been the family business for generations
    Or they go through each other?
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  • ROTW
    ROTW Posts: 642
    seth plum said:
    A genius, but with feet of clay like so many greats.
    RIP.
    To the uneducated, what does that mean?
  • bobmunro
    bobmunro Posts: 20,843
    edited May 2022
    ROTW said:
    seth plum said:
    A genius, but with feet of clay like so many greats.
    RIP.
    To the uneducated, what does that mean?

    It means a weakness or character flaw - in Lester's case it was that he didn't like paying his taxes.

    However people who use the phrase sometimes forget that it applies to everyone, including themselves.
  • superclive98
    superclive98 Posts: 4,766
    Lester rode Shadeed to win the 2000 Guineas in 1985 on my first trip to the races as an adult.
    I saw a re-run of the race this morning and Lester was like poetry in motion. He really was a genius on a horse.
    RIP The Long Fellow
  • philcafc
    philcafc Posts: 3,883
    Legend of racing RIP.
  • Chippycafc
    Chippycafc Posts: 14,142
    Will comment first on his legacy as a winning jockey. Wonderful winner.

    Was rude to my two children at Newbury racecourse along with willy carson in the mid 90's, before Alan Munro intervened, who saw what happened and apologised to us for what he described as old fogy attitudes.

    RIP never the less.
  • creepyaddick
    creepyaddick Posts: 6,152
    I used to play darts with a fella called Ron who used to be a jockey, on his first race he was up against Lester Piggott. Lester won the race and Ron came 2nd. After the race the trainer asked Ron why he was crying his eyes out and that he had done really well on his first ride to which Ron answered it wasn't the fact of finishing 2nd, it was that Lester Piggott had whipped his arse all the way around!