Legendary Jockey Lester Piggott’s training career was cut short after when he was jailed for tax evasion.
Lester Piggott, a legendary jockey, died on May 29, 2022, at the age of 86. Nine stunning Derby victories had established the racing great as a household name.
When Piggott was 12 years old, he rode his first victory, The Chase, in 1948. The Englishmen then won a total of 30 races, resulting in a total of 4,493 winners. He also won 116 Royal Ascots and was voted Jockey Champion 11 times during his career. He retired from the company in 1985.
Piggott, on the other hand, had a reputation for being contentious at times. From his unlawful relationship to his teen years in prison, he’s had it all. Learn more about the racing genius’s incredible life in the section below.
Also Explore: How Old Is Jamie Piggott? Jockey Lester Piggott’s Son From Anna Ludlow Is A Bloodstock Agent
Why Was Lester Piggott Sent To Prison?
Lester Piggott was sent to prison after being found guilty of Tax evasion. He was convicted of defrauding an amount of around £3.25 million.
As mentioned on BBC, the most significant amount on his charge sheet is a £1,359,726 alleged concealment from additional riding income. Another claimed that he hid £1,031,697 in profits from bloodstock operations for 14 years, starting in 1971.
Following this, he was jailed for more than three years in 1987. The jockey was also stripped of his prestigious OBE title. He, however, served in prison for only a year after receiving time off.
Piggott claims that a widely held assumption that he was charged after making a final settlement of his tax issues with an undeclared bank account is a hoax.
Tax Evasion Charges Almost Took Lester Piggott’s Career
Lester Piggott resumed his racing career in the 1990s at the age of 54 years.
The first cup he won after his prison time was the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Royal Academy. Two years after, he rode another winner, Rodrigo de Triano. He rode his last win in the UK in October 1994 and officially got retired in 1985.
Some of his friends had stated that Piggott had softened after his prison sentence. However, the legend had told the interviewers that his prison terms did not make any difference.
Lester Piggott Derby Winnings And Career Achievements
Piggott has a magnificent nine derby victories. He went on to ride more than 4000 winners before his first retirement in 1985. He is an eleven-time champion and winner of 30 classics.
Piggott was named the second greatest rider of the twentieth century by The Racing Post in 1999. In 2021, he was inducted into the British Champions Series Hall of Fame.
The jockey legend had accumulated a net worth of around $20 million USD from his amazing horse racing career.