Lester Piggott, the record-breaking former champion jockey, has passed away at the age of 86.
The racing legend died in hospital in Switzerland, his son-in-law and Derby-winning trainer William Haggas confirmed in a statement.
Piggott was inducted into the 'Hall of Fame' at Ascot in October 2021
Piggott won nine Epsom derbies across his iconic career
"Sadly we can confirm that Lester died peacefully in Switzerland this morning," he said.
Piggott is one of the sport's all-time greats and most famous names - winner of the Epsom derby nine times and with close to 5,000 race wins across his 48-year career.
The Englishman was honoured in the first draft of inductees into the British Champions Series Hall of Fame last year and had a statue at Curragh Racecourse - where he won five Derbys and three 2,000 Guineas races - unveiled only on Saturday.
Piggott's daughter, Maureen, is married to Newmarket trainer William Haggas, with both Maureen and the jockey's son, Jamie, flying to Switzerland to visit him before he sadly passed away. He has another daughter, Tracy, who is a sports presenter for RTE in Ireland.
Piggott moved to Rolle, a Swiss town on the outskirts of Lake Geneva, in 2012 with his partner Lady Barbara FitzGerald, after separating from his wife of 52 years, Susan.
He was admitted to intensive care back in 2007 due to a recurrence of a heart problem, but made a swift recovery.
In his heyday, Piggott was one of the world's most famous sporting stars and told Racing Post in 2015: "I think a lot of older people still remember me.
Top jockey Piggott was well acquainted with racing lover and horse owner Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen and Piggott meet at Epsom Racecourse in June 2019
"I'm probably famous to them, but the younger ones wouldn't really know who I am. Time goes by. A lot of people wouldn't know me now."
He remained a hugely popular figure in the sport after his retirement, with renowned trainer John Gosden paying a fitting tribute to the racing icon after hearing of his admission to hospital.
"An absolute superb, wonderful legend of a man," he told At The Races.
"He is a great friend to all of us - a wonderful, so highly intelligent, so brilliant and so resilient.
"He follows everything, he doesn't miss a trick. William and Maureen's amazing achievements over the last six weeks have given him nothing but pleasure."
Tom Marquand rode one of Haggas' horses, Alenquer, to glory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at Curragh on Sunday, while another, four-year-old colt Baaeed, won the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury earlier in May.
Piggott rode Never Say Die to victory in the 1954 Epsom Derby
A statue of Piggott stands proud at Epsom Racecourse - the venue of his most famous victories
Piggott first retired as a jockey in 1985 to become a trainer, hosting 34 winning horses at his stables in Newmarket.
However, his new career was ended when he was jailed for tax fraud in 1987. He was sentenced to three years in prison, serving 366 days, and was stripped of the OBE he was awarded in 1975.
Piggott resumed his racing career back as a jockey in 1990 and enjoyed further success, before officially retiring in 1995.
Following news of his hospital stay, Haggas paid tribute to his father-in-law.
"He's battling a bit, but he's a tough man,' Haggas told Sky Sports Racing.
"All we can do is train plenty of winners and keep him amused, that's what we're trying to do.
"I don't think he thinks about what he's achieved, but he loves the adulation that he gets every time he steps out into a public place."
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