Piggott Makes His Return to Racing

British jockey Lester Piggott failed to win in four tries Wednesday as he returned to racing after recovering from injuries suffered in a near-fatal spill in October.

Piggott, 57, rode three horses owned by Sheik Ahmed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, a member of Dubai’s ruling family.

One of those horses, Red Rainbow, finished second in the featured Jumairah Stakes, a neck behind the winner, Shati.

“I don’t feel 100% fit, and I thought I was a bit unlucky today,” Piggott said. “But it always feels great to be back in the saddle. Here, the racing was not that tough, and it feels good to ride again.”

Piggott was riding for the first time since Oct. 31, when his mount, Mr Brooks, fell at Gulfstream Park in Miami during the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The jockey’s collarbone and two ribs were broken.

Racing in Dubai had been delayed five days when rain swept the United Arab Emirates last week.