ASCOT, England -- American jockey Willie Shoemaker defeated English rider Lester Piggott in a head-to-head $17,100 charity horse race Friday.
Piggott, riding the 13-8 favorite Spanish Pool on the old mile track at the Ascot course, never seriously threatened his opponent after Shoemaker took an early lead on the 11-8 shot Princes Gate.
Shoemaker said, 'Lester is a great rider, and I thank him for the race. I hope we did some good and raised a lot of money for charity.'
Piggott replied, 'I thank him for coming -- it was a great honor.'
The race had been built up by British commentators as the 'Race of the Century' between the jockeys generally considered to be the best in the world.
The Englishman, who at 46 is five years younger than Shoemaker, rode his 4,000th winner earlier this season while the American is the veteran of more than 8,000 successes.
