FREDA and Jimmy Hetherington were regular visitors to Redcar Racecourse in years gone by - and one of their prized possessions has now been bequeathed to the track.

The couple, who lived at Normanby, were racing fans in the era when Lester Piggott was the king of the weighing room.

Jimmy died several years ago and Freda has recently passed away. In her will, she asked that a painting of Lester, with his nine Epsom Derby winners, should be passed on to family friend, Peter Barron, who manages Redcar's press and public relations.

The instruction to Peter, via the executor of the will, Mr Ian Ford, was that the painting should be donated to Redcar Racecourse,and displayed for racegoers to enjoy.

Redcar's general manager Amy Fair took possession of the painting before racing last Friday and said: "We are very touched to be given the painting. It was such a lovely gesture by Freda to think of us, and we will find somewhere appropriate for it to be displayed.

"Lester rode at Redcar on numerous occasions and lots of our racegoers will have fond memories of getting up close to one of the true legends of the sport."

Lester's Redcar track record included winning the William Hill Gold Cup three times on Passenger (1964), Lord Gayle (1970), and Royal Prerogative (1973). He is pictured below on Passenger after his win in 1964.

Lester is also pictured below being interviewed by Redcar's former racecourse presenter Graham Orange during a return to the track after his retirement. Redcar went on to pay a poignant tribute to Lester by holding a minute’s silence shortly after his death in May 2022.

• Can you remember Lester's nine Derby winners, commemorated on the painting donated to Redcar? They were: Never Say Die (1954), Crepello (1957), St Paddy (1960), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), Empery (1976).The Minstrel (1977), Teenoso (1983).