Legend Lester visits city

The nine times Epsom Derby winning jockey, regarded as the greatest ever rider on the flat, returned to the Lisburn course where he won the Ulster Derby in 1967 aboard Dano Kano, to watch his son Jamie ride in the claiming race.

19-year-old Jamie, who is keen to follow in his famous father’s footsteps, made his debut at Killarney in July.

Race ace Piggott attended the Victoria Square Ladies Day to witness Jamie riding Captain Moonlight for Tommy Stack in the Cruise Claiming Race.

However, the teenager had to settle for finishing down the field.

Once the public became aware of the legend’s presence at the track he was greeted by well-wishers and autograph hunters.

The great rider was accompanied at the Lisburn course by Vincent Rossiter, a long-time friend and former jockey.

Race goers weren’t disappointed with the racing. The feature of the meeting supplied an Ulster owned winner in Fisher Bridge owned by Robert Watson from Dungannon, son of a local legend, trainer/rider Archie Watson who sent out French Tan to finish runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1970.

Winning trainer, Noel Meade claimed the Ulster Cesarewitch for the second successive year.

Two local runners, Fisher Bridge and Annakrista went head to head for most of the race, the longest contest in the Ulster flat racing year, and as the latter faded in the closing stages it was Crystal Earth who delivered a belated challenge to finish as runner-up.

• The career of a legend - Piggott began racing horses from his father’s stable when he was 10 years old and won his first race in 1948, aged 12. A teenage sensation, he rode his first winner of the Epsom Derby on Never Say Die in 1954 aged 18 and won eight more. He had a glittering career of unparalleled success.