RACING NOTES : Britain’s Piggott to Ride in Breeders’ Cup

The 55-year-old British riding legend Lester Piggott, who recently launched a comeback after five years in retirement, has a Breeders’ Cup mount.

Piggott, who served almost two years in a British prison after being convicted on income-tax evasion charges, began his comeback Tuesday at Chepstow, Wales, where he won two races.

On Wednesday, he was offered the mount on Royal Academy in the Breeders’ Cup Mile by trainer Vincent O’Brien, for whom he has ridden four English Derby winners. O’Brien reviewed videotapes of Piggott’s races at Chepstow before offering the assignment, which became available when Royal Academy’s usual rider, John Reid, injured his collarbone.

Piggott, who has ridden 4,351 winners in Britain and more than 800 elsewhere, rode only one horse in a Breeders’ Cup race before retirement, finishing 11th aboard Theatrical in the 1985 Turf at Aqueduct.

What may be the most talented 2-year-old filly to race since Ruffian will run for the remainder of her career for the underprivileged children of America. Owner Carl Icahn will donate every penny Meadow Star earns to the Children’s Rescue Fund, it was announced Thursday.

For starters, she can earn $450,000 by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 27 at Belmont Park.

Icahn also pledged to match donations made by others to the fund.

The fund, established by Icahn to benefit homeless children, provides temporary housing and rehabilitative, medical and social services to substance-abusing mothers with children under age 4.

To date, the undefeated Meadow Star’s earnings surpass $500,000 after six victories, five in graded stakes.

Northern Wolf’s blistering 56 3/5-second move over 5 furlongs in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup sprint was the Hank Allen-trained colt’s final exercise of the year. Northern Wolf, who upset Safely Kept in the DeFrancis Dash at Pimlico, suffered a chipped sesamoid and is out of the Sprint.