A true titan..

Horse racing legend who led the field in eyes of peers

- STEPHEN WHITE

A MAN of few words in public, Lester Piggott did his talking in the saddle – and hardly anyone in horse racing history did it more eloquently.

His seemingly flawless skill and instincts as well as a ruthless streak helped to make him a winning machine, loved by millions and, reportedly, the Queen’s favourite jockey.

Piggott, who has died aged 86 in hospital in Switzerland, rode his first winner aged 12 and his last when he was 58.

He fell from grace when he was jailed for tax fraud. But his standing as perhaps Britain’s best ever flat racing jockey has never been in question.

Jockey Frankie Dettori said: “He was a legend. We always tried to aspire to be like him and none of us can do it. We all grew up wanting to be like him.”

Rod Street, chief executive of Great British Racing, said: “Lester was a true titan of sport who transcended horse racing.” Five-time champion jockey Willie Carson said: “I feel as though I’ve lost part of my life as Lester has been part of my life since I came into racing.

“He is a legend. We had the luck of some ding-dongs on the track. He made us all better because we had to be better to beat him... He was so magical on top of a horse.”

Piggott was known for his single-mindedness and was not averse to phoning up trainers to get rides he thought he could win on, regardless of the incumbent jockey. Carson added: “He had the confidence, because he didn’t care about others, where normal people worry about doing the wrong thing.