Racing: Keith Piggott dies aged 89

KEITH PIGGOTT, the father of Lester and a leading jockey and trainer in his own right, died on Tuesday night at the age of 89.

The son of Ernest Piggott, who rode three Grand National winners, the greatest moment of Keith Piggott's career came as a trainer came with the success of Ayala in the National of 1963. One of a line of successful racing figures, Piggott's family traced back to an 18th century trainer, John Day.

Piggott was fiercely ambitious for his son and in 1948, at the age of 12, Lester became apprenticed to his father and rode his first winner.

He spent his retirement living near Lester in Newmarket and, in recent years, offered help to any jockey seeking advice. Ray Cochrane and Alan Munro both benefited from his advice and he talked them through films of the Derby before their winning rides on Kahyasi and Generous.