Based in California, Pierce earned his first win in 1954 and went on to become a leading jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1967, he was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award which honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing.[1] Of this recognition by his peers, Pierce said "I've got the trophy sitting on my mantle and it's very important to me. Without a doubt, it ranks close to anything I ever achieved in racing. It's very, very special."
Pierce was a four-time winner of California's most prestigious race, the Santa Anita Handicap, and twice won the most important West Coast race for three-year-olds, the Santa Anita Derby.[2] Out of five appearances in the Kentucky Derby, his best result came in 1980 edition when he rode Elmendorf Farm's Super Moment to a fourth-place finish.[3] The 1979 Preakness Stakes was his only appearance in that race in which he finished fourth aboard Flying Paster.
Between 1969 and 1973, Pierce set a California stakes race record by winning five straight editions of the Los Angeles Handicap.[4]
During his career, Don Pierce won riding titles at New York state's Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park. After not riding at Del Mar for six years, he returned to compete there in 1966 and won the riding title.[5] In addition, he led all jockeys in North America with 32 stakes wins.[5]
Retired and living in Encinitas, not far from the Del Mar Racetrack. As of 2007, he was still involved in the industry, maintaining an ownership stake in at least one racehorse. In 2010 he was back to a familiar lifestyle, getting up in the middle of the night to get to work by 4:30 am at the Del Mar track to be part of the clocker crew.[5]
In 2010, Don Pierce received racing's highest honor when he was voted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.[6]
His brother, Larry Pierce, was also a jockey who rode on the West Coast. There, he was known for his success at race tracks in Washingtonstate and in 2008 was inducted into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame.[7]
Referencesedit
^. Santa Anita Park. 2021-01-01. Archived from the original on 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
^"2020-2021 Winter Media Guide, pages 116, 120" (PDF). Santa Anita Park. 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
^Larry Pierce at the Washington Racing Hall of Fame 2010-09-18 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
donald, pierce, born, april, 1937, retired, racing, hall, fame, jockey, thoroughbred, horse, racing, occupationjockeyborn, 1937, april, 1937, clebit, oklahomacareer, wins3, 546major, racing, winsgottstein, futurity, 1957, handicap, 1958, 1966, longacres, mile,. Donald R Pierce born April 13 1937 is a retired U S Racing Hall of Fame jockey in thoroughbred horse racing Donald R PierceOccupationJockeyBorn 1937 04 13 April 13 1937 age 87 Clebit OklahomaCareer wins3 546Major racing winsGottstein Futurity 1957 Del Mar Handicap 1958 1966 Longacres Mile 1958 Del Mar Debutante Stakes 1959 1969 1971 1973 Santa Anita Handicap 1960 1962 1965 1972 Santa Anita Oaks 1960 1965 1966 1970 1983 Margate Handicap 1961 Hopeful Stakes 1962 California Breeders Champion Stakes 1963 1964 1967 1970 1974 1978 Santa Anita Derby 1964 1979 Sanford Stakes 1964 Acorn Stakes 1965 Schuylerville Stakes 1965 Del Mar Derby 1966 1975 1978 Hollywood Oaks 1966 1969 1973 1978 Santa Ynez Stakes 1966 1970 1974 Santa Monica Handicap 1968 1976 1977 Hollywood Derby 1969 1975 1979 Los Angeles Handicap 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 Santa Ana Handicap 1969 1973 1976 Santa Barbara Handicap 1969 Santa Margarita Handicap 1969 1975 1978 San Diego Handicap 1970 Californian Stakes 1973 1974 Del Mar Oaks 1973 1974 1977 Bay Meadows Handicap 1974 Speakeasy Stakes 1974 1978 Lawrence Realization Stakes 1976 Santa Maria Handicap 1976 1977 Hollywood Lassie Stakes 1977 Racing awardsGeorge Woolf Memorial Jockey Award 1967 HonorsU S Racing Hall of Fame 2010 Significant horsesAck Ack Amerigo Lady B Thoughtful Flying Paster Hill Rise Kennedy Road Princessnessian Quack Silky Sullivan Triple Bend Based in California Pierce earned his first win in 1954 and went on to become a leading jockey in the 1960s and 1970s In 1967 he was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award which honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing 1 Of this recognition by his peers Pierce said I ve got the trophy sitting on my mantle and it s very important to me Without a doubt it ranks close to anything I ever achieved in racing It s very very special Pierce was a four time winner of California s most prestigious race the Santa Anita Handicap and twice won the most important West Coast race for three year olds the Santa Anita Derby 2 Out of five appearances in the Kentucky Derby his best result came in 1980 edition when he rode Elmendorf Farm s Super Moment to a fourth place finish 3 The 1979 Preakness Stakes was his only appearance in that race in which he finished fourth aboard Flying Paster Between 1969 and 1973 Pierce set a California stakes race record by winning five straight editions of the Los Angeles Handicap 4 During his career Don Pierce won riding titles at New York state s Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park After not riding at Del Mar for six years he returned to compete there in 1966 and won the riding title 5 In addition he led all jockeys in North America with 32 stakes wins 5 Retired and living in Encinitas not far from the Del Mar Racetrack As of 2007 he was still involved in the industry maintaining an ownership stake in at least one racehorse In 2010 he was back to a familiar lifestyle getting up in the middle of the night to get to work by 4 30 am at the Del Mar track to be part of the clocker crew 5 In 2010 Don Pierce received racing s highest honor when he was voted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame 6 His brother Larry Pierce was also a jockey who rode on the West Coast There he was known for his success at race tracks in Washington state and in 2008 was inducted into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame 7 References edit 2020 2021 Winter Media Guide page 14 George Woolf Award Santa Anita Park 2021 01 01 Archived from the original on 2020 05 06 Retrieved 2021 04 22 2020 2021 Winter Media Guide pages 116 120 PDF Santa Anita Park 2021 01 01 Retrieved 2021 04 11 1980 Kentuckyderby com Retrieved 2016 05 28 A McCarron Six Pack Los Angeles Times 2002 04 27 Retrieved 2021 11 21 a b c Grand end to jockey s humble beginning The San Diego Union Tribune 2010 08 12 Retrieved 2021 11 22 Don Pierce National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame 2010 01 01 Retrieved 2021 11 21 Larry Pierce at the Washington Racing Hall of Fame Archived 2010 09 18 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Donald R Pierce amp oldid 1102486942, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
