Ananova:

Lester Piggott is to ride again - on the day before he officially becomes an old aged pensioner.

The king of 29 Classics has confirmed that he will be taking part in a race for retired jockeys in Australia.

The special event at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne takes place on November 11 on the eve of Piggott's 65th birthday.

Piggott, 11-times champion jockey in Britain, originally planned to take part in a veterans' race at Cologne earlier this month.

But the comeback had to be scrapped when his mount broke out of the stalls and was withdrawn.

Piggott, who rode his first winner at the age of 12, is taking part in the Emirates Airline Legends Race.

Other leading international jockeys are expected to take part in the 800-metre race.

Piggott is already tuning himself up as he tries for his first win at Flemington racecourse.

"I am currently in preparation for the race, riding track work for my son-in-law William Haggas," he told Racing Victoria.

"The Legends Race is an exciting concept for the Melbourne Cup Carnival and I am looking forward to returning to the saddle and repeating my last Australian victory, winning on Centaurea in the 1985 Australasian Oaks, South Australia."

The event, last staged at Flemington in 1992, takes place on the traditional 'Family Day' during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The focus of the race will be on the riders rather than the horses, with betting not permitted.

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