BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Pierre “Peb” Bellocq, 99, the longtime award-winning cartoonist for Daily Racing Form, passed away after a brief illness at the Princeton Medical Center on November 12—just 13 days shy of his 100th birthday.
Born November 25, 1926 in Bedenac, Charente-Maritime, France, Bellocq signed his early drawings “Peb,” and the name stayed with him for life.
In 1954, Bellocq was contracted by Laurel Park owner John D. Schapiro to do drawings for the inaugural running of the Washington, D.C. International Stakes and a year later, he accepted an offer to work in both politics and sports as the staff cartoonist for The Morning Telegraph newspaper and its sister publication, Daily Racing Form.
His caricatures of horses were distinct in illustrating the spirit of their names while his jockeys, trainers, track officials and owners were spot on in capturing his subjects’ distinctive looks and personalities with Peb’s affection and wit. Being drawn by Peb became a badge of honor in stable areas, jockeys’ quarters and racetrack board rooms throughout North America.
He also created murals for Churchill Downs and Del Mar and his work has for years been displayed throughout Oaklawn Park.
Bellocq received the National Cartoonists Society 1991 Sports Cartoon Award and their 1999 Newspaper Illustration Award.
Honors and Legacy
In 2020, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame named Bellocq to the Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor. In Saratoga, he was recognized for using his art and creativity to draw attention to important causes. Exhibitions such as Peb: The Art of Humor brought his racing cartoons to audiences outside the sport.
In 2009, Bellocq donated a collection representing nearly half a century of his work to Keeneland. Visitors can still view it through the online exhibit The Artistry of Peb. He also remained generous with his time and appeared at events for racing fans and students well into his later years.
Bellocq is survived by his sons Remi, Pierre Jr. and Denis; daughter; Brigitte Toth; wife, Marie-Denise; stepdaughter, Elisabeth; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter, Lise, and his first wife, Denise.
Remi Bellocq is a longtime cartoonist for The Florida Horse and Wire to Wire, carrying on his father’s artistic tradition.
“I have had the honor and pleasure to have known Peb for close to 45 years through one of my closest friend in life, Remi, and have been a fan of his incredible work even longer,” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. “They were and are family. The racing industry and artistic community will forever miss one of their greatest stars and humans.”
Peb’s pen gave racing something rare: a way to laugh at itself while celebrating everyone who loves it. His drawings will continue to tell the sport’s story for generations.
Return to the November 14 issue of Wire to Wire
