5 Best British Jockeys Of All Time

British jockeys occupy a strange place in the sporting halls of fame; it is regarded by many as a sport requiring less dedication than traditional pursuits such as football, weight-lifting or running. The truth couldn’t be further from it; although fitness levels are less crucial than in some other sports, jockeys require an iron discipline in order to keep their weight low and ensure that their horse can travel as fast as possible.

Many top jockeys follow extreme diets in the days and weeks before a big race, and famously often resort to spending hours in the sauna in order to shed those last few pounds in water-weight.

As a nation with a keen interest in watching and betting on horse racing, Britain has bred some of the best jockeys of all time; check out our pick of the top British jockeys and find out why you should book one of the jockeys on the books at our London talent agency for your next event:

Lester Piggot

Over the course of a spectacular career, Piggot bagged an incredible 4,493 wins and is widely recognised as one of the best jockeys of all time, never mind British. Born into a family of jockeys and trainers, Piggot began racing horses at the age of just ten and won his first race at twelve. Famously tall for a jocket at 5ft 8, Piggot was known as The Long Fellow and often struggled to keep his weight down because of his hei

Willie Carson

Born in Stirling in Scotland, Carson was made an apprentice to Captain Gerald Armstrong in Yorkshire where he learned his trade; the Scot won his first victory in 1962 aged just twenty. Over his career he won 17 British Classic Races, as well as passing 100 winners in a season a stunning 23 times – unsurprisingly his total number of career wins was well over 3,000 and in 1990 Carson managed to ride 187 winners in just one season – including six on one day.

Walter Swinburn

As with many jockeys, Walter came from a sporting background, with his father Wally Swinburn the first Irish jockey ever to record 100 wins in a season. Nicknamed ‘The Choirboy’ his career spanned more than two decades, but his most famous race was on the superstar horse Shergar. In the 1981 Epsom Derby, Swinburn rode Shergar to victory by a record-breaking ten lengths.

Ryan Moore

A more recent entry to the racing hall of fame, Ryan Moore was born in Brighton to successful trainer Gary L Moore and his wife. He has three times been named Champion Jockey and unlike the other names on this list, continues to ride to this day. He is currently the

A more recent entry to the racing hall of fame, Ryan Moore was born in Brighton to successful trainer Gary L Moore and his wife. He has three times been named Champion Jockey and unlike the other names on this list, continues to ride to this day. He is currently the first choice jockey for Coolmore Stud and has also ridden horses for the Queen on occasion.

Brough Scott

Now best known for his work as a TV pundit, Brough Scott is the grandson of WWI war hero ‘Galloper Jack’ Seeley – and a hero in his own right in some quarters. In his prime as a jockey he rode more than 100 winners including the Mandarin Handicap Chase and the Imperial Cup. Since 1971 he has worked for ITV and Channel 4 as a commentator and pundit, and was the racing correspondent for the Sunday Times.

If you’re thinking of booking a jockey as one of the celebrity speakers at your next event then Brough Scott would be an excellent choice. He’s charming and charismatic with a wide appeal; horse racing is a great leveller, with people from all demographics likely to find him interesting – from monied horse owners to anyone who enjoys the odd flutter on the horses.

To find out more about booking Brough Scott, contact MN2S talent agency.

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