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Lester Piggott

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Athlete

The Resume

    (November 5, 1935-May 29, 2022)
    Born in Wantage, England, United Kingdom
    English jockey
    4,493 career victories
    Won the Epsom Derby nine times

Why he might be annoying:

    He was unusually tall for a jockey (5'8) and frequently had trouble making weight.
    He had a long-term affair with his assistant, eventually fathering a son out of wedlock.
    He was investigated by the Jockey Club for allegedly violating British racing regulations by placing bets while a rider.
    He was convicted of income tax evasion (1987) and served a year in jail.
    In defending him, his lawyer argued, 'Away from horses, he's a man of limited intellectual capacity.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was partially deaf since birth.
    He was the youngest Epsom Derby winner at age 18 (1954).
    After becoming a trainer, he said 'A good jockey doesn't need orders and a bad jockey couldn't carry them out anyway, so it's best not to give them any.'
    In identifying him for American readers, 'Sports Illustrated' described him as 'the Bill Shoemaker of European racing.' (Then, noting his gambling and tax problems, they added, 'With a touch of Pete Rose.')
    He is the namesake for the Lester Awards for outstanding British jockeys.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 115 Votes: 53.91% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying