September Date For ´Piggott Day´

Newmarket are likely to pay homage to the great Lester Piggott in September after the day planned for the Rowley Mile on Saturday was postponed.

The legendary rider is recovering in hospital in Switzerland following the recurrence of a heart problem

This weekend´s betdirect-sponsored card was due to honour Piggott but following discussions with his wife, Susan, and daughter, Maureen, the event has been put back until the autumn.

Lisa Hancock, managing director of Newmarket, said: 'Lester Piggott day without the great man present would have had an empty feel.

'Lester was so looking forward to the day, to meeting his many fans and hosting his family and friends at the racecourse.

'Saturday will now be a normal raceday and we will be changing the race titles, which had been named after his seven Guineas winners.'

Hancock and the Newmarket management have pencilled in a date in the autumn for the rescheduled celebration of Piggott´s achievements.

'All the elements that were to have made up the day ? a ´Lester The Legend´ display organised by the National Horseracing Museum, a souvenir racecard, clips of Lester´s Guineas winners shown on the big screen, book signings, interviews with racing celebrities, a special presentation to Lester ? will be put on ice until the autumn,' Hancock said.

'A very likely date is September 22, but we will wait until we have talked it through with Lester in due course when he returns to Newmarket.

'We are just so happy that Lester is OK and is expected to make a full recovery ? when we first heard the news we were very concerned indeed.

'Now we just look forward to hearing the news that he´s out of hospital and on his way back to Newmarket, where I know he will get a very warm welcome home.'

Piggott´s son-in-law, Newmarket trainer William Haggas, said the 71-year-old was continuing to do well.

Speaking at York racecourse, he told Channel 4 Racing: 'I spoke to Maureen on my way up here. She´s been with him and he seems to be, in the circumstances, pretty good.

'He´s still in intensive care, but he knows exactly what is going on and was reading the paper when they got there.'

The 11-times champion was suffering problems with his health a few months ago and was first admitted to West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds after feeling unwell on Christmas Eve on his return from a trip to Hong Kong. He was released five days later.

(C) PA Sport