Lester Piggot 80 this year.

25 years ago he went went on the porridge diet for a year they say its good for you!

His breakfast was a cigar apparently

I almost stood on his foot.

I own a pair of his derby winning y-fronts.

"His breakfast was a cigar apparently."

I think a cup of tea and a cigar for breakfast was to destroy his appetite.

Apparently he is living in Switzerland now over-looking Lake Geneva with his new aristocratic filly, his partner Lady Barbara FitzGerald.

best quote ever from the great man.
after he came from a long way back in the field to get a horse up to win by a nose,he was asked when did he know he was going to win the race.and the great man answered"about two weeks ago when I was booked for the ride"

Lester in a recent interview:

"Of course you never think about going this far," he says. "Nobody really wants to be 80, do they? I suppose it comes to us all."

Nearly 80 - and if that is a recent photo above - his starvation diet and Champagne & Cigars didn't do him too bad did it ? !

Brassneck - that Piggott quote has various versions and various sources but I think it was made after his winning ride on Karabas in the 1969 Washington International.  He had been heavily criticised by the US Racing press after his winning ride in the race on Sir Ivor the previous year. Many versions of the story (including some American sources) have Lester's response as "Three weeks ago, now eff off"

Forgot to add my favourite - his reply when stupidly asked why he rode with his bottom in the air.

"Well, I've got to put it somewhere"

You've got me going now......

Jeremy Tree (trainer): I've got to speak to my old school, Lester, and tell them all I know about racing. What should I tell them?

Lester Piggott: Tell 'em you've got the flu.

An illuminating quote from one genius to another

"In a perfect world, I would have Lester ride for me in all the big races, but in none of the Trials" - Vincent O'Brien

My Hero.....I loved the Man's style,no Flying Dismounts for Lester.He was the coolest Jockey on The Planet.

My old man quotes it as "Lester, when did you know you had the race won ?...........Last week"

Legend

My all time favourite quote from the great man was after the 1983 Derby. Vincent O'Brien replaced him with Pat Eddery on El Gran Senor, beaten a head by Secreto. Piggott finished down the field on an unfancied beast, but after unsaddling, took the time to go up to O'Brien and whisper in his ear....   "miss me?"

Royal Academy is my favourite racing memory. What a ride, What a jockey. What a man.

About 20 years ago I worked for a bookies called Mark Jarvis, one of my  cashiers in my base shop in Edlington used to send him a birthday and christmas card every year when he lived in Newmarket, and every year he sent her the same back, beautiful cards, all with personal messages and hand signed :-)

needs a bloody good botox,but he'd probably find it too taxing

discus...

Favourite quote is from 1984 - Having been jocked off Commanche Run in the St Leger Darrell McHargue told the racing media he was going to play tennis that day. Asked on the day of the race if the rain would be a problem for Commanche Run Lester replied - No but it will feck up Darrell's tennis.

I have two favourite Piggott quotes
One was about an Australian jockey who arrived on the gallops wearing a one-piece colourful outfit.  Piggott: "a pr1ck in a johhnie".
The other when Piggott was asked by an enthusiastic owner what he thought of the horse that had struggled in the race.  Piggott: "glue".