Longtime Monmouth trainer Pierce dies at 90

Joseph Pierce Jr., a trainer since 1956, died on Thursday at age 90 following a lengthy illness.

Pierce had trained at Monmouth Park since the late 1960s and was 1 for 4 at the current meet. He sent out the 7-year-old Gourmet Delight, whom he had trained on and off since 2013, to win a $12,500 claiming race at Monmouth on May 26. He had his final starter the next day.

Pierce sent out 2,256 winners and had purse earnings of more than $36 million.

Pierce had been on dialysis in recent years and had battled cancer.

His best horses included Grecian Flight, a mare who won 21 of 40 starts and $1.3 million between 1986 and 1990, and the multiple graded stakes winner Friendly Lover, who won 22 races and $1.2 million between 1990 and 1996.

Pierce also trained the stakes winners Dream Deal, Family Enterprize, and Night Invader.

Trainer Chuck Spina shared a Monmouth barn with Pierce for the past two decades.

“He was a great horseman and a fabulous guy,” Spina said. “He has always been one of my idols. He had so many great horses over the years. He was an old-school type of trainer who had the ability to adapt to whatever the times were.”

Monmouth Park honored Pierce with the Virgil “Buddy” Raines Distinguished Achievement Award in 1999.

Funeral arrangements are pending.