Without doubt a jockey for the big occasion with a staggering thirty classic winners accounted for. This includes nine Derbys spread over thirty years. Never Say Die (1954), Crepello (1957), St Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976), The Minstrel (1977) and Teenoso (1983). Phew! What an achievement. But wait… In addition to this Lester simply harvested big races. The list seems endless:

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes seven times
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe three times
Ascot Gold Cup eleven times
Irish Derby five times
Coronation Cup nine times
Eclipse Stakes seven times
July Cup ten times
International Stakes five times
Nunthorpe Stakes seven times
Plus, for good measure 114 races at Royal Ascot.

All in all he found the time to record 4493 winners in the U.K. plus plenty more aboard, including the Breeders' Cup Mile on Royal Academy in 1990. On top of all of this, during a hiatus from riding in the late 1980's, he also found time to send out a batch of winners as a trainer. These included a winner at Royal Ascot and the winner of the Italian Oaks. There has never been another jockey to compare with Lester he truly is the King of the turf.