Lester Piggott (1935 – 2022)

The legendary jockey Lester Piggott died this week, at the age of 86.  In a record-breaking career (nine times Epsom Derby winner), he showed outstanding talent and perseverance, overcoming health weaknesses and a spell of imprisonment.

Birth Chart

In  his balance of elements, Lester had 0 planets in fire signs.  Though he obviously had passion for his sport, he did not have a showy personality.  His Sun in Scorpio, also giving him secrecy and a reserve, was unaspected, thus enabling a free spirit.  The Scorpio Sun provided a wiriness and strength, while Ascendant in Virgo provided a slightness of frame, suitable for a jockey.  There is more detachment provided, with his Moon being in Aquarius.  The Moon in his chart squared Jupiter, an aspect of buoyancy which could add to the fearlessness of Scorpio.  However, with the Moon also loosely conjunct Saturn, there may have been somewhat of an Ivory Tower quality to his emotions.  Mercury in 2nd House of Finance square Pluto may describe the financial dealings which led to his imprisonment for tax evasion.  Venus in Virgo may have meant that he was fussy about friendship and food tastes – he certainly was restrictive with his diet, as an occupational necessity.  Sun in Scorpio is strong-willed, and added to that he had Mars in Capricorn for dogged persistence.  Mars closely sextiled Saturn, meaning that he was capable of precision in action, especially when combined with Virgo rising.  He enjoyed power, and handled it well, with Jupiter closely trine Pluto.  With Saturn opposite his Ascendant, he was known to be shy in relating to others.

Life and Career

Lester was born in Wantage, but spent much of his life in Newmarket, and spent his last years in Geneva.  He came from a family that had roots in the horse racing profession going back to the 18th Century.  Fascinatingly, his astrological chart shows this graphically, in Jupiter (horses) exactly conjunct his I.C. (roots and the foundation of his life).  I have noticed before this correlation elswhere, where horses are fundamental to existence where Jupiter conjoins the I.C. (which represents a point of security).

He began racing early in life, beginning at the age of 10.  His first Derby win was in 1954, at the age of 18.

He married Susan Armstrong in 1960, and she too came from a horse racing background. They had two daughters.  He also had a son from another relationship.

Later in life, in a phase when he worked as a trainer, he was convicted for tax evasion, and served a year in prison.  He was subsequently stripped of the O.B.E. that he had received in 1975.  But he returned to racing in 1990 with continued success, only officially retiring in 1995.

By the end of his life, he had achieved 4,493 career wins in Britain and 5,300 worldwide.  According to the Guardian Obituary, he met the Queen in 2017 at Royal Ascot and “there was a warm greeting from the Queen which suggested that she had, personally at least, forgiven him.”

Sir Ivor

When asked to name his favourite horse, he said that Sir Ivor was the easiest to ride.  He triumphed with Sir Ivor in 1968, in an apparently unforgettable finish.

Sir Ivor was born on 5th May 1965, and his electric Mars/Uranus conjunction was close to Lester Piggott’s Ascendant.  Lester himself had an electric type of energy, in Mars trine Uranus, being a love of excitement and the rush of adrenalin.  So they could work together with that energy.  Apparently, Sir Ivor’s turn of foot was so electric, that Lester described him as having almost “quickened out from beneath him”.  Moreover, Lester’s Chiron (Inner Healer) was exactly conjunct Sir Ivor’s North Node in Gemini, a successful karmic partnership.

Fred Archer

Lester was inspired by a 19th Century jockey named Fred Archer.  There are a number of similarities between them, and putting on my past-life therapist hat, I would say there is a good case to be made out that Lester Piggott could be a reincarnation of Fred Archer.  They were both centred geographically around Newmarket for much of their lives.  They were both a little tall for their profession, and starved themselves to keep their weight down.  The adjectives used for their personalities are almost identical: taciturn, miserly, ruthless and charming.  Fred took his own life at the age of 29 (the age of the Saturn Return), and his hard karma was shown by Saturn exactly square his Nodal Axis.  Often, when a soul fails to complete a mission and their life is cut short, they will try again in a later incarnation to succeed within a similar set of circumstances, in order to surmount the original hurdle.

So then, putting on my astrological hat, I don’t find compelling proof that they are the same soul, but there are some interesting crossovers in their charts.  Lester’s Moon/Saturn conjunction falls on Fred’s Venus/Mars conjunction, a balancing out.  Fred’s anguish had been the death of his wife in childbirth.  In Lester’s life, his marriage endured, and his life endured, so that would have been a success by any standards, but a recompense and achievement if he had been Fred Archer.  The planet Neptune represents spirituality, but also suicide, and Fred’s Neptune is opposite Lester’s Neptune, a possible indication of an attempt at spiritual balancing, too.

The two men also shared some aspects in their charts.  They both had Mercury square Pluto: in Lester’s case linking with financial troubles as Mercury was in his 2nd House.  We do not know what House Fred’s Mercury was situated in, without his birth time, but he also had financial troubles.  They both had Jupiter square Saturn, which can be self-sabotaging, and Venus sextile Pluto (the ability to love deeply).  That is an above-average similarity of aspects between two people.

This Platinum Jubilee weekend has involved a great deal of reminiscing over the 70-year reign of our Queen, and Lester Piggott’s own longevity has played a role in the horse-racing world, which is so dear to her.  The name of Lester Piggott has been inseparable from the sport for so long.  Passing over just before the Epsom Derby seems particularly poignant.  In a life purpose ostensibly fulfilled, Pluto was trine his Midheaven and sextile his Jupiter, when he took his final breath.

Aspects

Tomorrow (Monday 6th) brings us a sextile between the Sun and Chiron, a cheery healing aspect.  It’s onwards and upwards, and also helpful for problem-solving.  What do you yearn to solve?  There will be an attempt to bring everything to a wholeness.  If you are meeting a friend for coffee, you could discover more in common than you thought, and more potential for the friendship.  If it’s your birthday, it could indicate a healing year ahead.

The next aspect does not occur until Friday (10th), but is also a positive one: Mercury trine Pluto.  Chiron and Pluto both delve into the deep healing layers of our psyche, so this theme can continue throughout the week, with their influence meeting in the middle.  Whereas Chiron’s influence often manifests as an instant solution to a healing crisis, Pluto’s action can be slow over a period of time, requiring psychological adjustment, but can also occur suddenly and dramatically.  Fortunately, both planets (poetic licence for the asteroid Chiron) are in harmonious interactions, so suggesting positive outcomes to deep issues, working together during the week.  Mercury trine Pluto brings deep thought and psychological reflection, and earnest conversations.  Conversations could be life changing: the right word at the right time, striking home in the right place.

There’s a conjunction at the conclusion of the week, on Saturday (11th), that of Venus and Uranus at 16 degrees Taurus, and it occurs almost at the last hour of the day and week.  If  you are socializing on a Saturday night, it could be an enjoyable occasion, culminating in some startling exchanges and exciting meetings.  It is a vibrant social aspect, which may carry an element of serendipity.  People may question your sanity, however, or you theirs.

It puts me in the mind of the lyrics to “Saturday Night”:

“Saturday night, dance, I like the way you move
Pretty baby
It’s party time and not one minute we can lose
Be my baby”

For those of a more sedate lifestyle, e.g. couch potatoes, I wonder what’s on the television?  I so enjoyed the Platinum Jubilee Party last night – it was good to see people coming together, and enjoying themselves.

The week in bullet points:

  • Tomorrow – healing
  • Tuesday to Thursday – healing and deep communication
  • Friday – deep communication
  • Saturday – social excitement
Date: Jun 5th, 2022 · Comments RSS · Tags: Karmic · Obituary · Sport