There have been some incredible jockeys over the years, and it’s extremely difficult to narrow down the best jockeys in flat racing. Horse Racing is notorious for splitting opinions, so there’s every chance our lists may differ from other records, but we can guarantee you that every member on our list is a real legend of the sport and should be considered among the top jockeys of all time.
Frankie Dettori
Arguably the household name of the horseracing industry, Frankie Dettori is the ultimate showman in racing and is a firm fan favourite. He is perhaps best known for completing the ‘magnificent seven’ – riding all seven winners on the card at Royal Ascot in 1996. His trademark ‘flying dismount’ celebration has been a staple at racecourses around the world, including at Longchamp where he holds the record for being the most successful jockey ever in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Lester Piggott
Widely regarded as one of the best Flat jockeys of all time, Lester Piggott’s career spanned a whopping 42 years, resulting in a total of 4,493 winners. He won the Champion Flat Jockey award a total of 11 times and has won multiple classics, including the Derby a record nine times. To celebrate this, there are nine statues erected at different racecourses, including the likes of Epsom, Ascot and Newmarket.
Sir Gordon Richards
Pat Eddery rode a total of 4,633 winners during a career that spanned 34 years. He was crowned Champion Jockey 11 times and won a total of 14 Classic races, including the Derby three times. He also rode more winners than the likes of Lester Piggott and Frankie Dettori, firmly cementing himself as one of the best flat jockeys of all time.
Ryan Moore
Having won every British and Irish Classic at least once, Ryan Moore has to be on the list. He’s had over 400 Group or Listed winners in Britain, including a total of 16 Classic victories. It’s not just in Britain that he has excelled though, as he’s also won notable races worldwide, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Japan Cup, Melbourne Cup, Hong Kong Cup and Breeders’ Cup Turf.
