Horse Racing

Coolmore boss John Magnier leads honors for “greatest man”


Coolmore’s coach, John Magnier, led activities honoring one of the sport’s greatest icons, legendary nine-time Derby champion Lester Piggott, who he called “the greatest of all” ” after he passed away at the age of 86.

Piggott brought home former Ballydoyle coach Vincent O’Brien’s first Derby win in 1968 on the boat Sir Ivor.

They combined to win the race four times together, including Nijinsky in 1970, Roberto in 1972 and The Minstrel, to whom the pony’s owner Robert Sangster Piggott later signed a contract. to ride in 1972.

“He is truly the greatest. His family is in our thoughts today,” – John Magnier

Minstrel went on to win the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in the same season.

Recalling Piggott’s rare gift, Magnier told TDN Europe, “Obviously a sad day and lots of great stories and memories for Sue and me.

“I remember meeting Lester in the parade ring before the 1971 Haydock Sprint Cup. A group of us had bought the Green God a few days earlier and Lester was getting ready for the final race of the horse. “Don’t look for me at the long post, I won’t be there until the queue,” he told me, and sure enough he produced him with his trademark perfect timing. “

Magnier added, “At this time of year, the MV is frequently frustrated by Lester playing musical chairs about what he’s going to ride in the Derby. But he said, ‘you have to put up with him, or you give the opposition a 7lbs advantage!’ He is truly the greatest. His family is in our thoughts today.”

Willie Carson and Piggott swayed on the track in the 1970s and ’80s when both racers were in a state of pomp and five-time champion Carson says he felt like a part of him was dead to the core. The most iconic racing animal of the 20th century.

Carson, along with Frankie Dettori, who has described Piggott as his “hero”, paid tribute to the legendary racer on Sunday morning.

“I feel like I’ve lost a part of my life, because Lester has been a part of my life since I got into racing,” Carson said.

“I came to him and his wife as an apprentice and he was a part of my life from the start, until the end. He is an iconic figure in the world of horse racing. He is a legend.

“We got lucky with some ding-dong on the track and he’s the one who makes us all better – because we have to be better to beat him. We had to start our game to compete with him, because he was too magical on the head of a horse. So sad. Part of my life is gone – that’s how I feel. ”

Double-winner Frankie Dettori, who will take part in Donnacha O’Brien’s Piz Badile race at Epsom on Saturday, echoed Carson’s thoughts on Piggott.

Dettori said, “Lester is a hero of mine and a good friend. The impact he has made in racing is, for all of us, second to none”.

He added, “I will always try to remember him for good and I offer my sincere condolences to his family and many friends. He is a legend. We always try to aspire to be like him and none of us can.”

Sir Michael Stoute is also one of the industry’s leading figures to pay tribute to Piggott. Stoute shared how he feels Piggott has been instrumental in his coaching career.

Piggott took the Classic English and Irish win to coach Newmarket, who will be representing the likely Desert Crown favorite in the Cazoo Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

“It’s sad news,” Stoute said. “He rode my first winner on Rowley Mile on a horse called Sandal, owned by my father, in 1972.

“He won the Irish Derby at Shergar (1981) and won the 2000 Guineas at Shadeed (1985), because Walter (Swinburn) was suspended for both of those games. He’s a super sub and he’s not a bad sub! Lester is a genius on racehorses. I don’t think there has been anyone better. “

Piggott’s 4,493 winners – more than 5,000 worldwide – are the third-highest number in British racing history, behind only Sir Gordon Richards and Pat Eddery.

Stoute added, “Lester can be very entertaining when he’s in the mood – he has a great sense of humour. But sometimes he is difficult to talk to.

“Actually, in 1980, he picked a lot of my stuff, hoping to continue that, but he failed a few people at that stage.

“He is an icon, a great racer. Many people tried to be like him and no one came close.”





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