On what would have been his 91st birthday, Ian Wood compares Lester Piggott with Sir Gordon Richards, Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore—and considers Billy Loughnane’s extraordinary rise.
Lester Piggott was born on 5 November 1935. Today, on what would have been his 91st birthday, we remember a jockey whose name became synonymous with horseracing—and ask whether he was the greatest of all time.
For those of us who watched him, the argument involves more than statistics. There was his judgement of pace, his extraordinary feel for a horse and his ability to produce a challenge at precisely the right moment.
When a race became a battle, you always felt that Lester might find something nobody else could.
The figures behind the legend
Piggott rode 4,493 British Flat winners, won 11 jockeys’ championships and recorded 116 victories at Royal Ascot. His 30 British Classic successes included an extraordinary nine Derby victories.
Those Derby winners stretched from Never Say Die in 1954 to Teenoso in 1983: almost three decades of mastering a race that can expose the smallest error of judgement.
His greatness was not confined to one style of riding. He could dictate from the front, wait patiently behind or prevail in a desperate finish. He seemed to understand how much a horse had left—and how to persuade it to give it.
Sir Gordon Richards: a record that demands respect
No serious discussion of the greatest jockey can overlook Sir Gordon Richards.
His 26 British Flat jockeys’ championships and 4,870 winners remain outstanding benchmarks. His long-awaited Derby victory on Pinza in 1953 supplied the defining moment of a remarkable career.
Richards surpassed Piggott in championships and British winners. That deserves proper recognition. My argument for Lester rests on the complete combination: Classic dominance, international success, longevity and exceptional mastery in the saddle.
Piggott versus Dettori
Frankie Dettori brought brilliance, personality and an instinct for the big occasion. Behind the flying dismount was a rider with superb balance, tactical judgement and the confidence to make a decisive move.
The comparison is revealing:
| Achievement | Lester Piggott | Frankie Dettori |
|---|---|---|
| British Classics | 30 | 23 |
| Derby victories | 9 | 2 |
| British jockeys’ championships | 11 | 3 |
| Royal Ascot winners | 116 | 81 |
| Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victories | 3 | 6 |
Piggott holds a substantial advantage in several of British racing’s defining measures. Dettori’s record six Arc victories demonstrate the strength of his own international claim.
And nobody should forget Frankie’s Magnificent Seven at Ascot on 28 September 1996, when he won every race on the card. It was an extraordinary feat of concentration, judgement and competitive instinct—a sporting occasion that reached far beyond racing’s usual audience.
That day will forever belong to Frankie. But across a complete career, I believe Lester’s record remains the stronger.
Ryan Moore: the modern spiritual successor
Ryan Moore can reasonably be described as Piggott’s modern spiritual successor.
Both share a reserved public manner, an exceptional tactical brain and the confidence of leading trainers when the stakes are highest. Their finest work can look deceptively simple: conserving energy, anticipating an opening and knowing exactly when to ask for everything.
Moore’s four Longines World’s Best Jockey awards underline his international standing. Dettori has also won the award four times, although it was introduced long after Piggott retired.
Their careers must be considered in context. Piggott combined domestic championship campaigns with considerable international success. Moore operates in an even more interconnected racing world, where travelling for major prizes can take precedence over pursuing a British championship.
Championship totals therefore tell only part of the story. For me, Moore’s brilliance reinforces the comparison with Lester—but Piggott remains the standard against which that brilliance is judged.
Billy Loughnane: an extraordinary beginning
Billy Loughnane’s rapid progress brings back something of the excitement surrounding a young Piggott.
| Early milestone | Lester Piggott | Billy Loughnane |
|---|---|---|
| First winner | Aged 12, in 1948 | Aged 16, in 2022 |
| First British Classic | Derby, aged 18, in 1954 | 2,000 Guineas, aged 20, in 2026 |
| First British championship | Aged 24, in 1960 | Aged 20, in 2026 |
Yesterday’s announcement that Loughnane has been appointed a retained rider for Godolphin adds another milestone to his remarkable rise. It is a powerful endorsement of his ability—and an opportunity to build the international career that his talent promises.
Loughnane reached the championship younger than Piggott—an achievement that deserves emphasis. Lester, however, had already won the Derby while still a teenager.
Different eras offer different opportunities. Billy deserves the freedom to build his own career, rather than carry the burden of reproducing another man’s achievements.
But a brilliant beginning is only the opening chapter. Piggott sustained his excellence across decades.
The verdict
Individual records may eventually fall. What I believe is unlikely ever to be surpassed is Piggott’s complete achievement: the precocious talent, longevity, Classic dominance and extraordinary judgement that made his presence in a race so significant.
Sir Gordon Richards set exceptional standards. Dettori thrilled the world. Moore has mastered the international stage, and Loughnane represents its exciting future.
But for me, Lester Piggott remains the greatest jockey of all time—as close to a universally acknowledged GOAT as horseracing will ever have.