You could picture the scene being taken straight out of some haphazard cash-in of a former popular movie franchise. The past champion, incarcerated for over a year, making his last shot at the big time. Critics and doubters dubbing him 'washed up' or 'over the hill'. Of course, in the movie - and sorry to those who have not yet seen Rocky Balboa - the old champion loses.

Lester Piggott didn’t follow that script. It’s 1990, the Breeders’ Cup Mile is being contested at Belmont Park in Elmont, USA and Piggott has spent 366 days in jail for tax irregularities and two more years in retirement. He saddles his steed, Royal Academy, just 12 days after returning to ride with, obviously, little to no training. He has faith in his trainer and friend Vincent O’Brien that the horse will run well and true.

The 11-time champion jockey sits back like he always did, feeling at home, sitting off the pace. It is only at the home turn that Piggott gets into gear, making up ground on Itsallgreektome. Piggott, the enigmatic winner of nearly 30 classics, battles through adversity to get his horse’s nose in front. He’s had tougher battles in his career but “nothing tasted sweeter” than what was to happen for the maestro.

“As we straightened up he lost his action completely – maybe he put his foot in a hole,” Piggott explains. This doesn’t bother the 55-year-old and he continues to crack his whip like he always did, winning the lucrative purse by a neck.

To those who doubted and criticised him for returning to horse racing after the shame of a jail sentence, the Breeders’ Cup win gave Lester his most rewarding prize of his career. Along with holding the largest amount of money for a single win at the time, Piggott was holding the proverbial two fingers up to those who could not see the legend making such a triumphant return.

Two years later, in 1992, Piggott was to win another classic at the town of his birth, Newmarket, with the capture of the 2,000 Guineas on Rodrigo de Triano. The legendary jockey, considered the best the world has ever seen, retired for good in 1995. His story is one of success, controversy and unparalleled commitment to horse racing.

The man’s life was destined to be explosive from day one.  Housewives loved him and so did the punters. Nine Derby wins, eight St. Legers, seven King Georges, five Irish Derbies, three Arcs, 11 times champion jockey - oh, and those 366 days in jail make Lester infamous.

On November 5, 1935, a star was born in Newmarket. For horse racing, on Guy Fawkes Night more than 70 years ago, something truly special had begun. With the birth of Lester Piggott the world was to receive a true sporting hero - and villain.

Lester’s first winner on the turf was a horse called The Chase at Haydock Park when he was only 12 years old. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Was Lester Piggott the greatest jockey of all time - and if not, who was or is? Thoughts and comments to Sportingo.