LEGENDARY jockey Lester Piggott, who won nine Derby victories, has died at the age of 86.

One of the greatest jockeys of all time, Piggott rode his first winner, The Chase, at Haydock in 1948 aged just 12 and his last win came with Palacegate Jack at the same track in 1994, a few weeks short of his 59th birthday. He retired for a final time in 1995.

St Helens Star:

He is pictured here in these archive pictures at Haydock Park.

Piggott, who was crowned champion jockey 11 times, died peacefully in Switzeland this morning.

Piggott first won the Derby in 1954 aboard Never Say Die. Eight more wins followed – including Nijinsky in 1970 – with his last Epsom hero being Teenoso in 1983.

Also successful in the 2000 Guineas, Nijinsky and Piggott went on to land the Triple Crown with his triumph in the St Leger.

A brief training career saw Piggott saddle Cutting Blade to win the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1986, a meeting at which he rode a record 116 winners – with 10 of those coming in the Gold Cup.

Born in Wantage, Berkshire, on November 5 1935, Piggott had his best season numerically in 1966 with 191 winners. He rode his 4,000th winner through Sparkling Sin at Nottingham on July 26 1982.

As well as the Derby nine times, Piggott also landed the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket five times, together with the 1000 Guineas twice.

In all he rode 30 British Classic winners – the last being Rodrigo De Triano in the 2000 Guineas for Peter Chapple-Hyam in 1992.

Piggott was nicknamed ‘The Long Fellow’ and was relatively tall for a Flat jockey at 5ft 8in and fought hard to ride at 30lb below his natural bodyweight.