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Apprentice jockey Luigi Riggio was born in 1968 in Manchester, where his Sicilian-born father had married an English woman. The family’s only connection with racing was that the jockey Chris Rutter was a distant relation of Luigi’s mother.
Apprentice jockey Luigi Riggio was born in 1968 in Manchester, where his Sicilian-born father had married an English woman. The family’s only connection with racing was that the jockey Chris Rutter was a distant relation of Luigi’s mother.
Like Rutter, Luigi started his racing career with Henry Candy and Kingstone Warren, becoming apprenticed after leaving school. He made the perfect start to race-riding when his first mount in public, on Going Going at Windsor on July 8, 1985, was a winner. Not only that, he managed to beat Pat Eddery’s mount Flyhome by a short head.
Like Rutter, Luigi started his racing career with Henry Candy and Kingstone Warren, becoming apprenticed after leaving school. He made the perfect start to race-riding when his first mount in public, on Going Going at Windsor on July 8, 1985, was a winner. Not only that, he managed to beat Pat Eddery’s mount Flyhome by a short head.
The following month, on August 27, Luigi rode Going Going to win the apprentices’ Derby, the Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap at Epsom by a massive 12 lengths. Three days later he rode Malcolm Eckley’s seven-year-old Bold Illusion to a half-length victory in an apprentices’ handicap at Chester.
The following month, on August 27, Luigi rode Going Going to win the apprentices’ Derby, the Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap at Epsom by a massive 12 lengths. Three days later he rode Malcolm Eckley’s seven-year-old Bold Illusion to a half-length victory in an apprentices’ handicap at Chester.
He finished the 1985 campaign having ridden a total of four winners. He rode six winners in 1986 including an early-season success on Bold Illusion at Leicester on March 24.
He finished the 1985 campaign having ridden a total of four winners. He rode six winners in 1986 including an early-season success on Bold Illusion at Leicester on March 24.
A broken right wrist caused him to miss the first three weeks of the 1987 campaign, but he quickly made up for lost time by scoring a third success the game veteran Bold Illusion at Wolverhampton on April 13, holding off the strong challenge of John Reid’s mount Sir Crusty by a short head.
A broken right wrist caused him to miss the first three weeks of the 1987 campaign, but he quickly made up for lost time by scoring a third success the game veteran Bold Illusion at Wolverhampton on April 13, holding off the strong challenge of John Reid’s mount Sir Crusty by a short head.
Luigi left Kingstone Warren soon after and moved to Newmarket. After a short spell with Mark Tompkins he joined Alan Bailey’s stable. In July he came in for the ride on the favourite in the £12,000 Tennant Trophy at Ayr, Mary Reveley’s Holly Buoy. Alas, the horse did not show his best form on the day and could finish only sixth. Luigi finished the season with just three winners to his name.
Luigi left Kingstone Warren soon after and moved to Newmarket. After a short spell with Mark Tompkins he joined Alan Bailey’s stable. In July he came in for the ride on the favourite in the £12,000 Tennant Trophy at Ayr, Mary Reveley’s Holly Buoy. Alas, the horse did not show his best form on the day and could finish only sixth. Luigi finished the season with just three winners to his name.
Seeking better opportunities, at the start of the 1988 season he joined Lambourn-based trainer Eric Wheeler as stable jockey, finishing the season with a score of five winners.
Seeking better opportunities, at the start of the 1988 season he joined Lambourn-based trainer Eric Wheeler as stable jockey, finishing the season with a score of five winners.
Despite that early promise, he rode for just one more season, his sole success from 53 mounts coming on Wheeler’s six-year-old Green Dollar in a six-furlong handicap at Brighton on June 27, 1989.
Despite that early promise, he rode for just one more season, his sole success from 53 mounts coming on Wheeler’s six-year-old Green Dollar in a six-furlong handicap at Brighton on June 27, 1989.
It wasn’t weight that was the issue, for Luigi was a natural lightweight and could go to scale at as little as 7st 3lb. However, he quickly faded from the scene and did not take out a professional jockey’s licence once his apprenticeship was at an end.
It wasn’t weight that was the issue, for Luigi was a natural lightweight and could go to scale at as little as 7st 3lb. However, he quickly faded from the scene and did not take out a professional jockey’s licence once his apprenticeship was at an end.
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