Those who had the good fortune to make the acquaintance of Lester Piggott never forgot the occasion. The tall, gangly, poker faced horseman with the trademark mutter presented a countenance that gave little away. It didn’t seem to match his universal image as the world’s most famous jockey. He gained that reputation because he rode race horses all over the world.
Many have better Lester Piggott stories than mine, but it was an occasion I’ll never forget. It was a Thursday afternoon in the early 90’s, and I was on the phone to Irishman Kevin Connolly who was training horses at Kulnura for the Hong Kong owned Domeland company. Kevin had agreed to allow myself and a Sky Channel crew to visit the Central Coast stables the following morning to profile the stable’s Saturday runners.
“You’ve picked the right day to visit,” said Connolly. “I have a house guest who arrived in Sydney two days ago who might make an interesting interview. Nobody knows he’s here and he really wants to lay low, but I might be able to talk him into having a quick chat with you.”
Lester rode in Sydney on several occasions. Here he is at Rosehill in the 1980s - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
I nearly dropped the phone when he told me it was Lester Piggott. The second shock came when he said Lester was going to gallop a couple of horses on the private training track originally developed by the late Larry Pickering. I wondered what Lester’s frame of mind would be when it came to the media. It wasn’t long after his widely reported battle with the British Tax Authority - a battle that saw him hauled into court on tax evasion charges. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment of which he served 336 days. A massive financial commitment saw him regenerate his riding career in 1990 at age 54. The racing world was quickly reminded of his freakish skills when he won a Breeder’s Cup mile on Royal Academy at Belmont Park just ten days after his return.
Two years later he won his fifth 2000 Guineas on Rodrigo De Triano to bring up his 30th British classic. He was 59 years old when he finally retired in 1995 with 4493 UK wins on his CV. His penchant for travel gave him a world wide win tally of 5300 - freakish, unimaginable statistics. After hanging up the phone from Kevin Connolly I called the late Paul Fenn, senior producer for Channel 9 News. I told him I had a possible exclusive for the Friday night bulletin with a famous jockey. He informed me the sports segment was flowing over, and he’d have to decline the offer. I told him the jockey was Piggott, and that nobody else knew he was in town. It took him all of twenty seconds to rearrange the Friday run down.
I’ll never forget my first glimpse of the legend standing in the Kulnura sunshine alongside Peter Losh who was riding regular work for Connolly at the time. For reasons best known to himself, Lester was wearing suede cowboy chaps over his jodhpurs. He looked more like a rodeo bronc rider than a world class jockey about to mount a royally bred Domeland thoroughbred. Lester gave the TV camera a cursory glance as Kevin Connolly legged him up.
A short time later he and Peter Losh were thundering down the straight side by side. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing in this idyllic Central Coast haven, a million miles from Epsom Downs where Lester had won nine English Derbies. I was mesmerised, the cameraman was excited and I’m sure Peter Losh was thrilled to be a part of it all. I think he rode one more horse for Kevin before he agreed to a brief interview.
A memorable day for all concerned. Lester and Peter Losh gallop horses for Kevin Connolly at Kulnura early 90s.
He couldn’t have been more gracious. He happily answered all the predictable questions and even made an off the cuff remark about his holiday at the expense of the British taxpayer. A little chuckle revealed a definite sense of humour. His profound deafness had resulted in a very soft and indistinct speaking voice. I could barely make out the words. Today, thirty years on I’d be really struggling.
News of his death in a Swiss hospital last weekend impacted every racing fan in the world. British racing lovers were stunned. The tributes on social media continue to flow. Former champion jockey Willie Carson was one of the first to respond. “I feel as though I’ve lost part of my life. He was a person who made all of us better - because you had to be better to beat him. We had to up our game to even compare with him because he was so magical on top of a horse.”
“So many have tried to be like him, and nobody has come close,” said top trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
Lester won many races in Robert Sangster's Swettenham Stud colours including the 2000 Guineas on Rodrigo De Triano 1992.
Just wanted to relate my little story about the day I spent a short time in the company of true racing royalty. I’ve bored people to death many times about my chance meeting with the legend. I’ll bore a few more to death before I’m finished. Legendary novelist Dick Francis was commissioned to write Piggott’s official biography in the mid 1980’s. When the book was finished Francis sat down with the publisher to select an appropriate title. “That’s easy,” said the renowned writer. “We’ll just call it “Lester”. Even non racing people all over the world will know who we mean.”
Australia was on Lester's itinerary for his farewell tour in 1995. Here he is at Canberra with owner Arthur Menzies and trainer Keith Dryden. They won the upcoming race with Roll On By.
(Banner image - Two champions! Ron Quinton with the canteen of cutlery after a win in the Invitation Stakes at Rosehill 1980s. You'll note Lester sports the Tulloch Lodge colours - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)