Lester Reiff
Encyclopedia
Lester Berchart Reiff was an American
jockey
who achieved racing acclaim in the United Kingdom
in the first decade of the twentieth century. In 1900, he was the number one jockey racing in Britain based on earnings, beating other prominent American jockeys such as Tod Sloan
, Danny Maher, Skeets Martin
and his younger brother, John Reiff, that were also racing in Britain at the time. The Reiff brothers were implicated in a horse doping
scandal in late 1901, which led to the revocation of Lester Reiff's license and the end of his racing career.
, to John Wesley Reiff and Elizabeth Jane (neé Wandel) Reiff. His brothers, John (1885–1974) and Delbert (1879–1976), were also employed in the Thoroughbred
racing industry. John Reiff is a US Racing Hall of Fame
inductee and Delbert Reiff was a horse trainer that ran a horse importing business from Maisons-Laffitte
, France
. The Reiff family moved to Findlay, Ohio
, in the 1880s, and Lester became a jockey apprentice as a teenager. He raced for horse trainer Enoch Wishard in 1894 but was suspended numerous times for throwing
races and was barred from horse racing in late 1894 and the early months of 1895.
with Wishard in 1896 to race for the stable of Tammany Hall
boss Richard Croker
. Reiff was again suspended in July 1896 for interfering with another horse while running the Goodwood Cup
in London
and he returned to the United States to race in a few minor stakes races. In 1900 his UK license was reinstated and he was contracted for $15,000 to race for Croker. Lester Reiff won 143 races out of 549 mounts in 1900, heading the list of winning jockeys in Britain, and he was the first non-British jockey to accomplish this feat. In 1901, Reiff won the Epsom Derby
aboard Volodyovski
.
for alleged race fixing by "pulling" or slowing the horse so it will not win. Lord Durham
also accused the brothers of involvement in a horse doping ring along with Enoch Wishard, William C. Whitney
and other American gamblers. While "doping" with performance enhancing stimulants was illegal at the time in the United States, it was still permissible in the UK in 1901 and was not outlawed until 1904. Lester Reiff's license was revoked for the 1902 season due to these incidents and he was barred or "warned off" from racing in other countries. His license was reinstated in 1904 but he did not pursue horse racing again.
with his wife. Lester Reiff became a real-estate broker and venture capitalist, managing the property of his family and several friends until his death on October 10, 1948, in Alameda.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
who achieved racing acclaim in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the first decade of the twentieth century. In 1900, he was the number one jockey racing in Britain based on earnings, beating other prominent American jockeys such as Tod Sloan
Tod Sloan (jockey)
James Forman "Tod" Sloan was an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1955.-Early life and U.S. racing career:...
, Danny Maher, Skeets Martin
Skeets Martin
John Henry Martin , commonly referred to as "Skeets" Martin, was an American jockey who achieved many racing wins in the United States and the United Kingdom during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. His most notable race wins were the 1902 Epsom Derby on Ard Patrick and the 1903...
and his younger brother, John Reiff, that were also racing in Britain at the time. The Reiff brothers were implicated in a horse doping
Equine drug testing
Racehorse drug testing began in the early 1900s. It is the longest established, broadest in scope, and possibly the most sensitive drug testing program in existence. Racehorse drug testing is performed within an extremely stringent regulatory context...
scandal in late 1901, which led to the revocation of Lester Reiff's license and the end of his racing career.
Early life and U.S. racing career
Lester B. Reiff was born on April 26, 1877, in Americus, MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, to John Wesley Reiff and Elizabeth Jane (neé Wandel) Reiff. His brothers, John (1885–1974) and Delbert (1879–1976), were also employed in the Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racing industry. John Reiff is a US Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductee and Delbert Reiff was a horse trainer that ran a horse importing business from Maisons-Laffitte
Maisons-Laffitte
Maisons-Laffitte is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the north-western suburbs of Paris from the center....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The Reiff family moved to Findlay, Ohio
Findlay, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile . There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile...
, in the 1880s, and Lester became a jockey apprentice as a teenager. He raced for horse trainer Enoch Wishard in 1894 but was suspended numerous times for throwing
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
races and was barred from horse racing in late 1894 and the early months of 1895.
U.K. racing career
Reiff traveled to the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with Wishard in 1896 to race for the stable of Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
boss Richard Croker
Richard Croker
Richard Croker, Sr. was an American politician, a leader of New York City's Tammany Hall.-Biography:...
. Reiff was again suspended in July 1896 for interfering with another horse while running the Goodwood Cup
Goodwood Cup
The Goodwood Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and he returned to the United States to race in a few minor stakes races. In 1900 his UK license was reinstated and he was contracted for $15,000 to race for Croker. Lester Reiff won 143 races out of 549 mounts in 1900, heading the list of winning jockeys in Britain, and he was the first non-British jockey to accomplish this feat. In 1901, Reiff won the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
aboard Volodyovski
Volodyovski
Volodyovski was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was owned and bred by Lady Valerie Meux who leased him for racing to Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford but after he died in late 1900, she re-leased the colt to the wealthy American businessman, William Collins Whitney.In 1901,...
.
Scandal
In October 1901, Lester Reiff and his younger brother John were reprimanded by the Jockey ClubJockey Club
The Jockey Club is the largest commercial organisation in British horseracing. Although no longer responsible for the governance and regulation of the sport, it owns 14 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham and Newmarket, amongst other concerns such as the National Stud and...
for alleged race fixing by "pulling" or slowing the horse so it will not win. Lord Durham
John Lambton, 3rd Earl of Durham
John George Lambton, 3rd Earl of Durham KG, GCVO, PC , known as Viscount Lambton until 1879, was a British peer....
also accused the brothers of involvement in a horse doping ring along with Enoch Wishard, William C. Whitney
William C. Whitney
William Collins Whitney was an American political leader and financier and founder of the prominent Whitney family. He served as Secretary of the Navy in the first Cleveland administration from 1885 through 1889. A conservative reformer, he was considered a Bourbon Democrat.-Early life:William...
and other American gamblers. While "doping" with performance enhancing stimulants was illegal at the time in the United States, it was still permissible in the UK in 1901 and was not outlawed until 1904. Lester Reiff's license was revoked for the 1902 season due to these incidents and he was barred or "warned off" from racing in other countries. His license was reinstated in 1904 but he did not pursue horse racing again.
Retirement from racing and personal life
Reiff married Frances Rowell, the daughter of California physician and horseman Harry E. Rowell, in December 1901. Reiff retired from racing in 1902 and moved to AlamedaAlameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
with his wife. Lester Reiff became a real-estate broker and venture capitalist, managing the property of his family and several friends until his death on October 10, 1948, in Alameda.