Hall of Fame rider Don Pierce–one of the leading jockeys of the 1960s and 1970s–died at the age of 89 Oct. 5, according to a National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame post on Thursday afternoon. The news was reported by Pierce's brother, Larry.A native of Clebit, Oklahoma, Pierce rode his first winner at New Mexico's Ruidoso Downs in 1954 before establishing himself on the Southern California circuit.The legendary rider took mounts for top trainers such as Hall of Famers Mesh Tenney, William Molter, Charlie Whittingham and Robert Wheeler. He reached a personal peak in 1973 when he led all jockeys in North America with 32 stakes victories.The post also says that Pierce enjoyed success in New York, where he won a Belmont Park riding title and captured several of Saratoga's most prestigious races, including the Hopeful and Jim Dandy.Pierce won four runnings of California's signature race for older horses, the Big Cap', and posted a pair of Santa Anita Derby wins.He won five consecutive editions of the Los Angeles Handicap (1969 through 1973) as well as five runnings of the Hollywood Oaks and Santa Anita Oaks. He did well at the seaside oval where he won the Del Mar Debutante four times, plus the Del Mar Derby and Del Mar Oaks.Among Pierce's top mounts were Flying Paster, Hill Rise, Quack, Taisez Vous, La Zanzara, Triple Bend, Kennedy Road, Modus Vivendi, Forceten, Minstrel Miss and Princessnesian, with whom he defeated males in the 1968 Hollywood Gold Cup to cap a five-win day.Pierce retired in 1984 with 3,546 wins, including 351 stakes, and purse earnings of $39,018,422. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.The post Hall of Fame Rider Don Pierce Passes Away At 89 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.