Family, fans and even a former cellmate turn out to honour legend Lester Piggott

The racing world turned out in force on Thursday to honour the life of Lester Piggott at St Luke's Church, Chelsea, and alongside some of the greatest names in the sport, past and present, there were plenty of racegoers and punters who had simply come to pay their respects to the nine-time Derby-winning jockey who died in May at the age of 86.

At a service that paid equal tribute to Piggott's indomitable spirit as he faced life's tribulations as much as to his brilliance, there was even a former cellmate who "looked after" the 11-time champion jockey during his year in Highpoint prison on tax offences.

The music set the tone for a joyous celebration as the congregation arrived to a selection of Bond themes, reflecting Piggott's devotion to 007 films. And as the orchestra struck up You Only Live Twice there was a collective smile. It could have been written for a man who packed more into one life than seems feasible and whose 'second coming' on Royal Academy in the Breeders' Cup Mile at the age of 55 was an improbable addition to the script.

Carefully chosen too were readings which reflected Piggott's character, in and out of the saddle, in a life in which he had to contend with difficulties with speech and hearing and a career-long battle with the weighing scales.

His grandson Sam Haggas read the poem Invictus:
"In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is bloody, but unbowed."

Tracy Piggott, Lester's daughter, read the passage from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 9Credit: Edward Whitaker

And daughter Tracy Piggott read the passage from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 9 she had chosen for her father's funeral in Switzerland and which she described as "very apt for Daddy". "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave."

There was a heartfelt rendition of Kahlil Gibran's poem Friendship by David St George, which Piggott had chosen to read at the funeral of loyal supporter Charles St George, David's father, in whose colours he had ridden many great horses, notably dual Ascot Gold Cup winner Ardross.

The most touching moments came in a tribute from Piggott's son Jamie and the eulogy from son-in-law William Haggas.

Jamie Piggott spoke movingly of being privileged to see "the legend and the father, who simply wanted a fulfilled life for his children".

He also revealed his father's generosity – in contrast to the public caricature – that meant "he would often buy a suit for a struggling apprentice on the condition he never told who had paid".

Jamie Piggott spoke movingly of being privileged to see 'the legend and the father'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Son-in-law William Haggas delivered the eulogy at Lester Piggott's memorial serviceCredit: Edward Whitaker

And he spoke of the "dichotomy" his father presented: "Adored by the public but a thorn in the side of racing authority."

He quoted his father's famous line after his split with Vincent O'Brien and the narrow defeat of the trainer's El Gran Senor in the 1984 Derby: "Do you miss me?"

"Yes Lester, we will, greatly," were his son's closing words.

Haggas explained that the collection was for causes close to Piggott's heart, the Injured Jockeys Fund and RAF Benevolent Fund and that his longtime regard for pilots had sprung from an incident when riding work in Lambourn and a plane crashed nearby, killing the crew. "Lester regarded RAF pilots as the bravest of the brave," Haggas related.

"Lester won races in 32 different countries outside Britain," he said. "He respected every jockey he rode against and loved the adulation and when he died the family received hundreds of letters from his followers."

Maureen Haggas and Tracy Piggott arrive at Lester Piggott's memorial service in ChelseaCredit: Edward Whitaker

Among the other mourners were Piggott's daughter Maureen Haggas and granddaughter Mary-Anne Haggas, and the two women with whom he had shared his life, wife Susan and Lady Barbara Fitzgerald.

From across the racing landscape they came to Chelsea to pay tribute, just as they had to the same place seven years ago to the day to honour Piggott's longtime friend Sir Peter O'Sullevan, whose voice still resounded through the church with his commentary of the 1968 Derby triumph by Sir Ivor, the horse Piggott regarded as the greatest he rode in the Epsom Classic.

But the final words belong to Piggott himself, responding to daughter Maureen, when his health had started to decline in February this year. "Daddy, you've done really well to get to 86 considering the abuse you've had to give your body since you were 12 years old," she said to him.

"Yes," he replied, "but it's been fun hasn't it?"

The memorial service in pictures

Willie Carson, who served as an usher at Lester Piggott's memorial serviceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe serving as an usher before the serviceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Jamie Piggott reads his memories of his father Lester at St Luke's ChurchCredit: Edward Whitaker

The order of service for Lester Piggott's memorial in London on ThursdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Legendary jumps trainer Martin Pipe arrives at Lester Piggott's memorial serviceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Mike Dillon, who organised the service, at Lester Piggott's memorial eventCredit: Edward Whitaker

Jamie and Tracy Piggott at St Luke's Church, ChelseaCredit: Edward Whitaker

Rachael Hood, John Gosden, Jonathan Pease and Diana and Alan Cooper arriveCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sir Michael Stoute and Roger Charlton were among the mourners in attendanceCredit: Edward Whitaker

BHA chairman Joe Saumarez Smith and BHA chief executive Julie Harrington arriveCredit: Edward Whitaker

William Haggas (right) and Seb Coe pictured at Lester Piggott's memorial serviceCredit: Edward Whitaker

Barry and Penny Hills are greeted by Piggott's son-in-law William HaggasCredit: Edward Whitaker

Some of those who attended

More than 700 people from across the racing industry came to pay their respects to Lester Piggott and to celebrate his extraordinary life.

Among those gathered in west London were former weighing room rivals Willie Carson, Bruce Raymond, Paul Cook, John Reid, Ray Cochrane, Michael Hills and Dale Gibson of the Professional Jockeys Association, an organisation of which Piggott had been a past president and passionate supporter.

Among the many trainers in attendance were several who had supplied Piggott with some of his greatest winners, including Barry Hills, accompanied by wife Penny. It was Hills who gave Piggott his first Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, Rheingold, in 1973.

From Newmarket came Sir Michael Stoute, for whom Piggott rode Shergar to victory in the Irish Derby and the 2,000 Guineas on Shadeed.

Fulke Johnson Houghton, who saddled two of Piggott's St Leger and Irish Derby winners, Ribocco and Ribero, was represented by his daughter Eve and wife Gaie, while the Balding family was represented by Emma, whose husband Ian trained Piggott's 1980 Prix de Diane winner Mrs Penny.

And from Ireland, there was Charles O'Brien, son of Vincent and Jacqueline, who supplied some of Piggott's greatest moments with Nijinsky, Roberto and The Minstrel. And there was Tommy Stack too, who shared with Piggott the unlikely honour of having partnered Red Rum, as well as John Oxx and his wife Caitriona.

Kevin Buckley represented the Coolmore-Ballydoyle team along with breeder Tim Hyde.

Former trainers Martin Pipe, Jack Berry, with wife Jo, John Hammond, Philip Mitchell, Charlie Brooks and Lynda Ramsden with husband Jack were also at the service and, among many from the current training ranks were Charlie Appleby, Nicky Henderson and wife Sophie, James Fanshawe, Roger Charlton, William Jarvis, Mark and Deirdre Johnston, Jonathan Pease, Richard Phillips and Hughie Morrison.

From the bloodstock world there was the royal racing adviser John Warren and his wife Carolyn, Lord Teddy Grimthorpe, Chris Richardson of Cheveley Park Stud, Alan and Diana Cooper, bloodstock agent David Minton and Wally, Doreen and Michael Swinburn of Genesis Green Stud.

From racing's leaders, BHA chief executive Julie Harrington and chairman Joe Saumarez Smith, Levy Board chief executive Alan Delmonte, Injured Jockeys Fund chief executive Lisa Hancock, Ian Renton of Jockey Club Racecourses, Mark Kershaw and Charles Moore, as well as 2012 Olympic organiser Lord Coe.

From the ranks of the racing media, Racing Post chief executive Alan Byrne and senior writer Peter Thomas, Brough Scott, JA McGrath, Piggott biographer and collaborator Sean Magee and former Daily Mail and Racing Post correspondent and diarist Colin Mackenzie were present at the service.

Special mention too must go to those who assisted the Piggott and Haggas families in organising the service: Nigel Payne, Mike Dillon, Anthony Daniel and Bob Musk.

Read these next:

Lester Piggott, legendary jockey and nine-time Derby winner, dies aged 86

Lester Piggott obituary: child prodigy who blossomed into a riding legend and statesman

Remembering a legend: Lester Piggott, in the words of Racing Post readers

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