Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Beth Harris The Associated Press
Don Pierce, an accomplished Hall of Fame jockey who won more than 3,500 races throughout his career, passed away at the age of 89 on Monday in Denton, Texas. Known for his victories in major races like the Santa Anita Handicap and Los Angeles Handicap, Pierce also earned accolades such as the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1967 and was elected to the National Racing Hall of Fame in 2010. His career included significant achievements across multiple tracks including Del Mar and Saratoga, where he rode for renowned trainers like William Molter and Charlie Whittingham.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Don Pierce, who won 3,546 races during a 30-year riding career that culminated in his election to racing’s Hall of Fame, has died.
asserted
that → win → Fame
Pierce died Monday in Denton, Texas, according to social media posts on Thursday from his brother, Larry, who was a former jockey, and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
uncertain
who → die → Fame
Pierce began his career with a victory on his first mount at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico in 1954 and went on to dominate the Southern California circuit before retiring in 1984.
asserted
Pierce → begin → 1984
He won the state’s signature race for older horses, the Santa Anita Handicap, four times.
asserted
He → win → horses
Pierce also won the Los Angeles Handicap from 1969-1973, as well as five editions of the Santa Anita Oaks.
asserted
Pierce → win → Oaks
He won the Del Mar Debutante and Hollywood Oaks four times, the Del Mar Derby three times and the Santa Anita Derby twice.
asserted
He → win → Debutante
In 1973, he led all North American jockeys with 32 stakes wins.
asserted
he → lead → wins
Pierce became known as one of the best money riders, often battling it out with friend and fellow jockey Bill Shoemaker for victories.
asserted
Pierce → know → victories
“If Shoe didn’t win, I did,” Pierce said.
asserted
Pierce → win → ?
“That went on for a long time.
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That → go → time
I rode a lot of horses Shoe couldn’t ride because he had so many chances.”
asserted
he → ride → chances
Pierce rode for Hall of Fame trainers William Molter, Charlie Whittingham and Robert Wheeler.
asserted
Pierce → ride → trainers
He also enjoyed plenty of success in New York.
asserted
He → enjoy → York
He won a riding title at Belmont Park and captured several of Saratoga’s most prestigious races, including the Hopeful and Jim Dandy.
asserted
He → win → Hopeful
Among the top horses Pierce rode were Ack Ack, Flying Paster, Fabulous Notion, B. Thoughtful, Triple Bend and Princessnessian, with whom he defeated males in the 1968 Hollywood Gold Cup to cap a five-win day.
asserted
defeated → ride → day
Pierce won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1967, which honors a rider whose career and personal character exemplifies them and the sport.
asserted
career → win → them
He rode in the Kentucky Derby five times, with his best result a fourth-place finish in 1980 aboard Super Moment.
asserted
result → ride → Moment
He finished fourth in the 1979 Preakness with Flying Paster.
asserted
He → finish → Paster
He had career purse earnings of $39,018,422 and was elected to the National Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.
asserted
He → have → 2010
Born in Clebit, Oklahoma, on April 13, 1937, he later moved to Oregon with his family.
asserted
he → bear → family
That’s where Pierce worked on a cattle and sheep ranch.
asserted
Pierce → ’ → ranch
He met a man who suggested he become a jockey, citing his size and experience with horses.
uncertain
he → meet → horses
The man told him to go to Hollywood Park in Southern California.
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man → tell → California
“I told my mom I was going and I’d hitchhike,” Pierce said.
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Pierce → tell → mom
“Well, she said she didn’t want me doing that and that she would give me the money for a bus ticket.
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she → say → ticket
Well, I took the money and hitchhiked anyway.”
asserted
I → take → money
When he arrived at Hollywood Park, the meet was over so he headed south to Del Mar racetrack, where he learned the nuances of race riding from trainer Jack Howard.
asserted
he → arrive → Howard
From there, Pierce went to Arizona and earned a contract to ride at age 17.
asserted
Pierce → go → age
Over the years, Pierce became known as one of the great money riders in the game.
asserted
Pierce → know → game
“I don’t know where that came from,” Pierce said. “Probably because I just kept winning stakes.
asserted
I → know → stakes
I won 351 stakes and that’s when they only had one a week.
asserted
they → win → one
Plus I had to buck ‘Shoe,’ who was always on the best horse.”
asserted
who → have → horse
Pierce lived near Del Mar for several years in retirement and for a time rose before dawn to work as part of the clockers’ crew that timed morning workouts at the track north of San Diego.
asserted
that → live → Diego
The Aporia
