Lester Piggott was a household name in Britain, by some distance the best-known jockey in horse racing. At the time he was Champion Jockey, having won the title for the eleventh time in 1982 at the age of 47. He had many wins in 'Classic' races to his name too, and was seeking a record ninth win this year.
For the 1983 renewal, Piggott was partnered with Teenoso, an American-bred colt trained in Britain by Geoff Wragg. With Piggott on board, the horse was sent off as favourite at 9/2. He was up with the leaders from the early stages, going clear as the field hit the straight and was never headed from there on in, winning by three lengths from nearest challenger Carlingford Castle. The ground was the heaviest in years, resulting in a slow time for the winner, clocking in at 2:49.07 - the slowest time of the 20th century.
With that victory, Piggott took the record for most wins in the race, which he holds to this day. He never won another Derby but at that year's Epsom meeting he had another win in the Coronation Cup on board Be My Native, coincidentally also his ninth win in that race. He would continue as a jockey until 1985, after which he went into training, sending out 34 winners before that career was cut short, in a well-publicised trial for tax fraud he was convicted and imprisoned, serving 366 days. That conviction also cost him his OBE, awarded in 1975. Following his release, in 1990 he elected to return to riding, and famously won the Breeders' Cup in the USA on board Royal Academy. He continued until 1995 when he retired once and for all from the saddle.
As for Teenoso, the horse did not win again in 1983 but went on to win several more races in the following year, most notably he won his final race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, partnered again by Piggott.
Lester Piggott, even after being retired for many years, remains a household name in horse racing and one of British sport's best-known figures.
Here is the 1983 Epsom Derby in full:
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