Riding Legend Piggott Has Breeders’ Cup Mount

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 less than 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 prior to 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. 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. “Whether Meadow Star wins or loses at Belmont, my commitment and the commitment of other caring people will bring good luck to these kids who must endure and ever-growing crisis of despair and poverty,” Icahn said.

To date, the undefeated Meadow Star’s earnings surpass $500,000 after six victories, five in graded stakes. She is likely to be the most heavily favored horse to race in the Breeders’ Cup and may emerge as the early favorite to win the 1991 Kentucky Derby.

Saturday’s $250,000 Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase drew a field of 13 that includes several formidable European horses. Morley Street, a gelded 6-year-old who defeated 1989 St. Leger winner, Michelozzo, in the Gatwick South Terminal Stakes on the flat at Goodwood early this month, is the overnight favorite at 2 5-8 miles. Grabel, Kiichi and Sarh, however, present a formidable body of European opposition.

Grabel has been racing on the flat in Britain since winning the the $750,000 Dueling Grounds International Hurdle in her American debut in April. The 7-year-old mare has won her last six races over fences, however. Kiichi, gelded 5-year-old stablemate of Breeders’ Cup Classic prospect Go and Go, won the prestigious Galway Plate in August, his last start. Sarh is regarded as the best 4-year-old hurdler in France.

Northern Wolf’s blistering 56 3-5-second move over 5 furlongs in preparation for the 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.

Hansel, second in the Hopeful and winner of the Arlington-Washington Futurity, wrenched an ankle in an early-week workout at Churchill Downs and is out of the Juvenile.