Report: Great British jockey Lester Piggott dies at 86

Jockey Lester Piggott died Sunday morning at the age of 86. With 4,493 winners between 1948 and 1994, "The Long Fellow" was the third-winningest jockey in British racing history.

As reported by the Racing Post, Piggott died peacefully in Switzerland, where he had lived since 2012. Thoroughbred Racing Commentary had reported May 26 that he had been admitted to a hospital near his home in Switzerland for an undisclosed illness, and that his family was with him as he convalesced.

Adept with horse from a young age, Lester Piggott won his first race in 1948 at Haydock, aged just 12. Six years later he would win his first English Derby with Never Say Die. He went on to win the English Derby nine times, most recently in 1983 with Teenoso. That record of nine English Derby wins still stands. He also won a record 11 editions of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, most recently with Ardross in 1981 and 1982.

Piggott's most iconic moment on American shores came with a son of Nijinsky: Royal Academy, who he rode to victory in the 1990 Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park. Near last early, Piggott steered Royal Academy down the center of the course for the stretch drive and his mount responded well. Piggott got Royal Academy up just in time to win by a neck.

Since leaving the saddle, Piggott remained involved in horse racing. In partnership with Anthony Hirschfeld he bred Superstar Leo, named the English champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 2000. He was also regarded as an elder statesman of horse racing in Great Britain, and is the namesake of the Lester Awards, which are awarded to top British jockeys each year.