Renowned jockey Lester Pigot has died at the age of 86 after battling heart problems - 48 hours after his daughter said she was recovering in hospital.
His lively career in the saddle, which inspired a bunch of films and documentaries about his turbulent life, lasted almost 50 years and saw him riding 4,493 winners.
Pigot’s son-in-law, the coach who won the Derby, William Hagas, said: “Unfortunately, we can confirm that Leicester died peacefully this morning in Switzerland. I really don’t want to add much more than that at this stage, although Maureen (Pigot’s daughter) will make a statement later. “
Praised as the most famous British rider and named “The Long Guy” because he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, it was the third highest number of victories behind only the late jockeys Sir Gordon Richards and Pete Ederi.
Pigota, who was hospitalized in Switzerland on May 22, his daughter Morin said he was recovering.
She said in Haidock Park on Saturday (May 28, 22): “I went to see him earlier in the week and he is getting better, which is good news. He is much better than he was earlier in the week and we hope to go home on Monday or Tuesday.
Crowned with the champion jockey 11 times, Pigot became synonymous with the Derby, which won a record nine times.
He also often unknowingly found himself at the center of attention and the brilliance of controversy.
Known in prison for tax evasion, Pigot began riding as a boy and rode his first winner as a jockey in 1948 at the age of 12 on a horse called ‘The Chase’ in Haidock Park.
His first winner of the Epsom derby was in the film “Never Sai Die” in 1954, when he was only 18 years old.
He won eight more - on ‘Crepello’ (1957), ‘St. Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empire (1976), Menstrel (1977) and Teenozo (1983).
On May 15, 2007, Pigot was admitted to an intensive care unit in a Swiss hospital after a previous heart problem reappeared.
It was said that the disease is not life-threatening and that he is recovering in intensive care as a precaution.
Pigot, who divorced his wife Susan Armstrong, was seen at the Royal Ascot the same year and at the Epsom Derby in June 2008, where he tipped the winner, ‘New Approach’, during a BBC television interview.
He was also presented for the Golden Cup Day at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2009, where he was interviewed in the parade ring.
Pigot was convicted of tax fraud in 1987 and sentenced to three years in prison.
TV presenter Rishi Persad, 48, wrote on Twitter: “Lester Pigot. The best jockey and one of the most famous sports stars who have ever lived. REST IN PEACE.”
Former jockey who became the host of Brown Scott (79) told Racing TV: “He cast the longest shadow anyone has ever cast in races.
“For me, he was my first and greatest hero because I was five years old when he ran his first winner. He was pretty amazing, he danced to a different tune than any jockey before or after. You can argue about his relative merits, but there has never been and never will be anyone like Lester Pigot.
The account of Great British Racing on Twitter read: “Lester Pigot, the legendary driver, passed away at the age of 86. In this sad moment, we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
And the Racing Post added: “Racing lost one of the biggest names in the history of sports after the death of Lester Pigot at the age of 86.
Among the crowd mentioning Pigot in pop culture, the British band ‘James’ recorded a song called ‘Sometimes (Lester Piggott)’ on their album ‘Laid’, as well as Van Morrison’s song ‘In the Dais Before Rock’ n ‘Roll’ also mentioned Pigot by name in line: “When we allow, then we bet / On Lester Pigot when we met [ten to one] / And we released a goldfish. ”