Cazoo Derby Re-Named To Honour Piggott

[Wandering Eyes]

Legendary jockey Lester Piggott, who passed away on Sunday, will be formally remembered during the running of Saturday's G1 Cazoo Derby In Memory Of Lester Piggott. Jockey Ryan Moore, Piggott's daughter Maureen Haggas and his former valet Brian Yorke visited the statue of the jockey on the Queen Elizabeth II Stand lawn to lay a wreath prior to racing. The wreath's colours are the same as the silks of 1970 Derby hero Nijinsky II, who had Piggott aboard for trainer Vincent O'Brien and owner Charles W. Englehard, Jr., the last winner of the Triple Crown. Piggott won the Derby nine times. In addition, jockeys will wear black armbands over the two-day stand.

Phil White, London Regional Director for The Jockey Club, said, “No jockey is more synonymous with our most famous race than Lester Piggott. Running The Cazoo Derby in his memory, which we believe has not been done in the 242 previous editions of the race, is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest jockeys of the modern era and the record-holder for most wins by a rider.

“We want to give racegoers on both days the opportunity to pay their respects and celebrate the life and career of this extraordinary sportsman, and we hope that taking the unprecedented step of re-naming The Derby shows the high esteem in which Lester is held.”

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