Who was Lester Piggott and how did he die?

NINE time Epsom Derby winning jockey Lester Piggott has died at the age of 86, according to his son-in-law.

The British sporting icon, said to be the Queen's favourite jockey, passed away in hospital near his home in Switzerland.

Who was Lester Piggott?

Lester Piggott was an iconic British jockey whose career spanned 48 years.

He won his first race, aged just 12, in 1948 and he went on to ride a grand total of 4,493 winning horses in British races.

Emerging onto the horse racing scene as a fresh-faced kid from a family of horse trainers and jockeys, Piggott soon earned the nickname "The Long Fellow" due to his 5 foot 8 stature.

Widely regarded as the best flat jockey of all time, he pioneered a new style of racing, and is said to have sustained himself on cigars and champagne in order to keep his weight down to eight stone and six pounds.

He retired in 1995, at the age of 58, and concluded his stellar career with a win at Haydock Park, the same course where he enjoyed his first win in 1948.

In 2021, Piggott was inducted into the British Champions Series Hall of Fame for his contribution to the sport.

How did he die?

On Sunday, 29 May 2022, Piggott's son-in-law William Haggas confirmed the death of the 86 year-old, just a week after he was admitted to hospital in Bursinel, Switzerland.

"Sadly we can confirm that Lester died peacefully in Switzerland this morning," Haggas said.

"I really don't wish to add much more than that at this stage, although Maureen (Maureen Haggas, Piggott's daughter) will be making a statement later," he added.

The jockey's cause of death is at the moment unclear, although he was admitted to intensive care for heart problems in 2007.

Was Lester married and did he have children?

Piggott married Susan Armstrong, the daughter of a horse trainer, in 1960 and they had two daughters.

Their oldest daughter Maureen, is now married to Derby-winning horse trainer William Haggas, and younger daughter is a sports presenter on Irish television channel RTE.

Piggott also had a son, Jamie, with his former personal assistant Anna Ludlow.

Piggott moved to Switzerland in 2012 after separating from wife Susan after 52 years, the couple still remained legally married.

Piggot lived in Switzerland with his partner Lady Barbara Fitzgerald up until his death.