#The Minstrel

Nijinsky remains the last colt to have won the Triple Crown - a feat he accomplished with Piggott aboard in the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger. Nijinsky outclassed his 2000 Guineas rivals in the paddock and on the racecourse, sweeping through most impressively to beat the top-class Yellow God by two and a half lengths. For the first and only time…

Although six years had already passed since the first win of his legendary career, Lester Piggott was still only 18 when riding his first Derby winner, Never Say Die, making him the youngest jockey to win the race during the twentieth century. This came just months after Piggott had ridden a winner, Mull Sack, at the National Hunt Meeting (nowadays…

In its enduring 149-year history, the Irish Derby has been synonymous with exceptional racehorses. ften, it has been the race in which greatness is confirmed, a coronation of sorts for the champion that has triumphed in the original at Epsom. That has been especially so since the Curragh Group One gained elite international status in 1962, when its…

EARTH can Strike in the opener. Having won like a nice prospect on debut here last month, Joseph O'Brien's EARTH STRIKE should take all the beating in this Listed contest. She bumped into a decent stablemate and Ger Lyons' Sister Rosetta that day, but this course and distance proved to suit her much more than it did them as she flew by both in the…

Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle discusses her ride on leading Molecomb contender Eddie's Boy, plus four other chances on day two of the Goodwood Festival on Wednesday. The Group Three Markel Molecomb Stakes (3.00) pitches together some of the fastest two-year-olds in training, including my mount Eddie's Boy - my best chance on day two of…

Peaceful and Cayenne Pepper are vying for favouritism in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday. Fancy Blue, who gave Donnacha O'Brien his first Classic success in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly last month, is among the 12 confirmations but could wait instead for the Nassau Stakes, with her trainer saying last week the Goodwood race…

Legendary jockey Lester Piggott, perhaps the greatest rider there has been, has died at the age of 86. He died peacefully in the early hours of Sunday morning in Switzerland, having been in hospital several days. His death comes six days before the Derby at Epsom, a race he will always be synonymous with. He won the greatest Flat race in the world…

Horse racing is one of the most popular sport in the world right now. The practice of racing horses can be traced back to the most ancient of civilizations. This means that, not only is horse racing hugely popular today, but it has been for pretty much most of human history. Today, however, we are at a certain advantage when it comes to horse…

Bloodstock expert Nancy Sexton ranks the stallions who have left the most indelible mark in the last 100 years. Today: the top five Nearctic - Natalma (Native Dancer) Stood: Windfields Farm, Canada; Windfields Farm, Maryland, USA Northern Dancer was a game changer as far as the industry was concerned, and not just in North America but Europe as…