Strangely enough I googles him last week, not having heards of him in the media for some while. Apparently he had been admitted to hospital and it didn't sound too hopeful for him, so I am not surprised at this news. RIP Lester.
He had a good life except when he went to prison for Tax fraud. 86 is a good age . I'm wondering if he was 'helped on his way' as I think he was suffering from a terminal illness and he died in a Swiss hospital. He was a good jockey and was lucky to spend his life doing something he loved.
TantP, don't you think he earned that 'good life' with his dedication to his sport. For years he kept his weight approx 30lb below what it ought to be for someone 5' 8" tall.
Also, your description of him as a 'good jockey' is quite an understatement. Many, many people much more qualified than i regard him as one of the greatest flat jockeys who ever sat astride a horse.
As students in London in the late 60s we used to do the 20 minute walk from our digs to the now closed Alexandra Park racecourse and there was a;ways an extra buzz when Lester Piggott was riding there.