Who are the Most Decorated Riders in British History?

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the UK and remains one of the most exciting sports for gambling. There are many horse betting sites in the UK that offer odds for races around the country but who are the most decorated riders in British horse racing history?

Lester Piggott

Lester Piggott is regarded by many as being the greatest jockey of all time. Piggott started his racing career as a youngster, winning races at just 12 years of age and it was clear he was going to become a fantastic jockey. Piggott became known as ‘The Long Fellow’ due to the fact he was tall for a jockey but that did not stop him from winning over 4,000 horse races across the world. Piggott’s favourite race was the Epsom Derby, which he won a record 9 times during his career, he was also awarded the title of Champion Jockey 11 times, highlighting his consistency over the years. Throughout his career, Piggott won major races in the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Singapore, and United States. In addition to the Epsom Derby, Piggott won the Ascot Gold Cup, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, 2,000 Guineas, and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes multiple times.

Sir Gordon Richards

The racing career of Sir Gordon Richards spanned three decades and during that time he rode over 4,800 winners. Richards was the British flat racing Champion Jockey 26 times during his career and, having received an MBE from the queen in 1953, he remains the only flat jockey to have been knighted. In contrast to Piggott, who was born into a family with racing history, Richards was the son of a coal miner and his love for horses stemmed from the mines. Richards was known to have a wonderful relationship with horses and employed good tactics to win races. He also encouraged respect between riders, even when competing and Richards’ values gained him a lot of respect in the horse racing and wider sporting community.

Willie Carson

Willie Carson is one of the most successful riders in British horse racing history having won over 3,800 races in his career. Some of Carson’s major victories include the 2,000 Guineas, Ascot Gold Cup, Epsom Derby, Irish 2,000 Guineas, and Irish Derby. Carson was named British Champion Jockey 5 times and his best season was 1990, when he rode over 100 winners. Carson was awarded the OBE in the 1983 New Years Honours List and his horse racing television commentary brought the sport into the homes of millions of viewers.

Pat Eddery

Pat Eddery’s riding career spanned almost 40 years, during which he won the 2000 Guineas, 1000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, Epsom Oaks, and St Leger Stakes, to name but a few major races. Eddery was named British flat racing Champion Jockey 11 times in his career and despite not being the most stylish of riders, his technique was extremely effective when it came to winning races. 

Tony McCoy

Tony McCoy, commonly known as AP McCoy, won almost every major race on the British and Irish jumps circuit. McCoy’s racing wins include the Grand National, Scottish Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle, King George VI Chase, Welsh Grand National, and Irish Grand National. McCoy was a professional rider for 20 years and he was Champion Jockey for each of those 20 years, a record that is unlikely to ever be broken. McCoy was knighted in 2016 and, in 2010, he was the first jockey to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.