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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Lester Piggott
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(b. 1935) One of the most successful British jockeys of all time. In the years 1948–85 he won the Derby nine times (the first when he was only 18) and the St Leger eight times, including the rare feat of a *triple crown on Nijinsky in 1970. He was champion jockey for an unbroken run of eight seasons from 1964, and the number of his victories in races world-wide exceeds 5200. In 1987 he was convicted of tax evasion involving £3.25 million and was sentenced to three years in prison, of which he served one. Against all expectations he started a second career as a jockey in 1990, and immediately proved that neither age nor adversity had diminished his brilliance. In 1992 he won the 2,000 Guineas to give him a record 30 *Classic victories; no other jockey since the 1880s has won even as many as 20.
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