you're right; that wasn't an easy race to ride at all, but supreme confidence in himself, and in his horse - as well as a complete indifference to criticism - makes it look easy in the end. Sir Ivor wasn't really a 12 furlong horse but ridden the right way he could look as though he stayed every inch. I don't know why people argue so much about who's best on form etc etc - it seems pretty clear that Sir Ivor was one of the modern greats.
Lester's incredible brain is working overtime in this race. he gets shoved back at one point, which would have done lesser jockeys. Then he manages to get Sir Ivor to give him some speed for a few strides to get him into the correct position, then on ground which was considered very heavy, conjures up a final sprint to take the race by a neck! Some US journalists called him a "Limey Bum" because they did not understand him, or the way he rode. Lester just ignored them!
Does anybody have the video of the 1972 or 1973 Washington DC International race in which the mount of Lester Piggott, Singapore horse Jumbo Jet, fell causing him yet another major international winner, please? I have searched for this video endlessly with no luck so far. No doubt it exists, though. I do believe Lester is quoted as saying from his hospital bed the next day"we were only cantering when he went down!" Would really appreciate your help on this one ladies n gentlemen! Cheers!
After this scintillating performance by Sir Ivor, what does that tell you about his Arc conqueror Vaguely Noble who put Sir Ivor firmly in his place in that race. Having said that I firmly believe that Sir Ivor's optimum trip was 10 furlongs.
why are the jocks on the 2nd and 3rd horses still riding a finish AFTER they were well past the finishing post? i get the impression they may have thought the winning post was further down the track.
Story goes that after the race the local journo's praised Sir Ivor and said he deserved special praise because the bum of a jockey had nearly got him beat. The following year Lester won the race again and the same hacks were all over him with one asking "Lester when did you think you were going to win?". To which the Maestro answered "Three weeks ago! Now piss off!"......Priceless.
I remember that. Northern trainer; Blackshaw, something like that. His 2-year-old was very fast. Went for a higher grade race, and Piggott was hired to 'do the business'. Lester was told not to strike the horse with the whip. You can guess the rest! For all the Long Fellow's urgings, the young horse wasn't quite as good as his trainer had thought.
Actually, the horse was Music Boy which was a 5f flyer which needed to be raced flat out from the start. Lester disobeyed orders, tried to "hold it up", and was narrowly beaten. Next time out, J Seagrave rode it "properly" and it won. Piggott just made a misjudgment.
Thanks for putting me right on that. I vaguely recall thinking that Piggott was wrong, but was still amused by his (alleged) arrogant remark. I think Music Boy was just a good early season sprinter, and did not improve??
Lester once said that you could only set alight a horse once in a race.If you watch ALL his big race triumphs a furlong and a half from home he asks for everything from the horse and 9/10 it worked
got a reply from phdddd which i think is meant for you mate! phd mentions the italian jocks, BUT IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS LESTER? I THINK NOT!!!
and you are right(well nearly right!) lester won NEARLY all his big races with a blistering run about a furlong and a half to go. but he did it pretty much from the front on ALLEGED in the arc. watch the master at work as the jocks beat their ponies arses in a vain effort to catch lester.
man, he's my sporting hero(well him and paul hunter. RIP)
Sheer cheek from Piggott. Pops the horse in front 20 yards from the line, then pulls him up. You need need a lot of talent and confidence to ride like this.
yet again lester proved himself the finest jockey of all time. he took on the yank jocks in their own back yard and showed them that when it comes to race tactics,judging the pace and riding a finish,there was no one better.lester knew all the trick(he invented half of them!).ever since he retired i've never felt much love for horse racing.one thing i want to see is his knighthood given back to him. he helped make british racing so successful all over the world. i'm proud he's english.
At his very best Sir Ivor was an exceptionally good horse with a pulverising change of gear as evidenced when he swept past Connaught in the 1968 Epsom Derby.
I am very proud to say i own one of Sir Ivors grandaughters unfortuantly named "Doubtful" she is a very lovely natured horse and i love her to bits although we cant ride her at present as she has some pelvic damage from before i rehomed her. Little angel and from a brilliant backround
OMG how great was Lester?Steve Cauthen, Joe Mercer and Yves Saint - Martin true artists in the saddle.
terryeggett1 5 months ago
I'm trying to imagine Australasia's racing industry without one particular son of Sir Ivor. Nope, can't do it.
emmelby 10 months ago
you're right; that wasn't an easy race to ride at all, but supreme confidence in himself, and in his horse - as well as a complete indifference to criticism - makes it look easy in the end. Sir Ivor wasn't really a 12 furlong horse but ridden the right way he could look as though he stayed every inch. I don't know why people argue so much about who's best on form etc etc - it seems pretty clear that Sir Ivor was one of the modern greats.
ComteLafon 11 months ago
Lester's incredible brain is working overtime in this race. he gets shoved back at one point, which would have done lesser jockeys. Then he manages to get Sir Ivor to give him some speed for a few strides to get him into the correct position, then on ground which was considered very heavy, conjures up a final sprint to take the race by a neck! Some US journalists called him a "Limey Bum" because they did not understand him, or the way he rode. Lester just ignored them!
malcs0 11 months ago
Does anybody have the video of the 1972 or 1973 Washington DC International race in which the mount of Lester Piggott, Singapore horse Jumbo Jet, fell causing him yet another major international winner, please? I have searched for this video endlessly with no luck so far. No doubt it exists, though. I do believe Lester is quoted as saying from his hospital bed the next day"we were only cantering when he went down!" Would really appreciate your help on this one ladies n gentlemen! Cheers!
slingampv 1 year ago
I believe legendary MJC announcer Ray Haight on the call here.
terjer01 1 year ago
After this scintillating performance by Sir Ivor, what does that tell you about his Arc conqueror Vaguely Noble who put Sir Ivor firmly in his place in that race. Having said that I firmly believe that Sir Ivor's optimum trip was 10 furlongs.
tarqogan 2 years ago
Lester we either a B*****d or a Genius....depends which horse you were on.
jsilkcut 2 years ago
Cheeky Lester haha.Going to the front 50 yards from the line .
kezanator123 2 years ago
another story about lester is that in the 60's he rode a horse for a small trainer of maybe a dozen horses.
piggott got beat and the trainer said'' you'll never ride for me again''.
''looks like i better retire then'' said lester,as dead pan as ever as he walked away.
nuipret 2 years ago
why are the jocks on the 2nd and 3rd horses still riding a finish AFTER they were well past the finishing post? i get the impression they may have thought the winning post was further down the track.
nuipret 2 years ago
Story goes that after the race the local journo's praised Sir Ivor and said he deserved special praise because the bum of a jockey had nearly got him beat. The following year Lester won the race again and the same hacks were all over him with one asking "Lester when did you think you were going to win?". To which the Maestro answered "Three weeks ago! Now piss off!"......Priceless.
Pactrolus 2 years ago 2
I remember that. Northern trainer; Blackshaw, something like that. His 2-year-old was very fast. Went for a higher grade race, and Piggott was hired to 'do the business'. Lester was told not to strike the horse with the whip. You can guess the rest! For all the Long Fellow's urgings, the young horse wasn't quite as good as his trainer had thought.
1oldirishman 2 years ago
@1oldirishman
Actually, the horse was Music Boy which was a 5f flyer which needed to be raced flat out from the start. Lester disobeyed orders, tried to "hold it up", and was narrowly beaten. Next time out, J Seagrave rode it "properly" and it won. Piggott just made a misjudgment.
pendil99 1 year ago
@pendil99
Thanks for putting me right on that. I vaguely recall thinking that Piggott was wrong, but was still amused by his (alleged) arrogant remark. I think Music Boy was just a good early season sprinter, and did not improve??
1oldirishman 1 year ago
Sorry, Pac, that reply was meant for nuiprit's story about a trainer telling Piggott he wouldn't ride for him again.
1oldirishman 2 years ago
Lester once said that you could only set alight a horse once in a race.If you watch ALL his big race triumphs a furlong and a half from home he asks for everything from the horse and 9/10 it worked
marcusallcock 3 years ago
got a reply from phdddd which i think is meant for you mate! phd mentions the italian jocks, BUT IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS LESTER? I THINK NOT!!!
and you are right(well nearly right!) lester won NEARLY all his big races with a blistering run about a furlong and a half to go. but he did it pretty much from the front on ALLEGED in the arc. watch the master at work as the jocks beat their ponies arses in a vain effort to catch lester.
man, he's my sporting hero(well him and paul hunter. RIP)
nuipret 3 years ago
He was from a different planet!! Pure horseman.His rides on Allegeds great ARC wins are legendary.He didnt need pacemakers then, he was the pace!!!
marcusallcock 2 years ago
Sheer cheek from Piggott. Pops the horse in front 20 yards from the line, then pulls him up. You need need a lot of talent and confidence to ride like this.
tigerboy1966 3 years ago
yet again lester proved himself the finest jockey of all time. he took on the yank jocks in their own back yard and showed them that when it comes to race tactics,judging the pace and riding a finish,there was no one better.lester knew all the trick(he invented half of them!).ever since he retired i've never felt much love for horse racing.one thing i want to see is his knighthood given back to him. he helped make british racing so successful all over the world. i'm proud he's english.
nuipret 3 years ago 2
Oh, the Itai will be him a good run for his money ... certainly, more reliable. And your 9-10 is very exaggerated.
phddddd 3 years ago
At his very best Sir Ivor was an exceptionally good horse with a pulverising change of gear as evidenced when he swept past Connaught in the 1968 Epsom Derby.
francilius 3 years ago
I suppose on pure form Sir Ivor wasn't one of the very best, but he really is one of the greats.
ComteLafon 3 years ago
I am very proud to say i own one of Sir Ivors grandaughters unfortuantly named "Doubtful" she is a very lovely natured horse and i love her to bits although we cant ride her at present as she has some pelvic damage from before i rehomed her. Little angel and from a brilliant backround
honeybeehoward 3 years ago
Fantastic performance from the King. Another finishing burst timed to perfection.
december2364 3 years ago 2
pure horsemanship from piggott
darwinbhoy 3 years ago 2
Brilliant!! producing this kind of performance at that time of year after contesting the 'Arc and Champion Stakes..
terbine13 3 years ago
Brilliant, I have been looking everywhere for this, thank you very much for uploading it
Briano696969 3 years ago