PARAGALLO TRYING TO PULL FAST ONE IN DELAWARE?
UPDATED FRIDAY, 3 P.M.
The two horses mentioned in the story below have been scratched. Click here for details.
Two horses that previously raced for the Paraneck Stable managed by Ernie Paragallo, who was recently charged with 22 criminal counts of animal cruelty at his Center Brook Farm in upstate New York, have been entered to race at Delaware Park on Monday under the name Nob Hill Stable.
Paragallo and Paraneck Stable are being investigated by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board (SRWB) and its horses are banned from racing at New York Racing Association tracks until a new authorized agent is named to run the stable. Paraneck is listed with the SRWB as being owned by Jennifer and Kristin Paragallo, Ernie Paragallo’s daughters. Paragallo had his owner’s license revoked by the SRWB in 2005 because of financial irresponsibility but he was allowed to retain a license as authorized agent to the stable. NYRA is insisting Paraneck retain a new agent who is not related to the Paragallos in any way or has been an employee of the operation. Paraneck has been a leading owner at New York tracks for more than a decade.
The Paulick Report has learned that Robert Savitsky, a Melville, N.Y., attorney, has applied with the SRWB to be the authorized agent for Nob Hill Stable.
John Wayne, executive director of the Delaware Racing Commission, said there is “100% reciprocity” in Delaware regarding the New York ban on Paraneck horses and said his office is currently investigating whether or not NYRA’s requirements have been met.
Wayne said he began looking into the matter Wednesday when he first saw the entries for Monday’s racing program at Delaware Park. The Nob Hill Stable name listed as owner of the two horses, Another Hades and Pink Viper, is spelled differently than the Knob Hill Stable founded by the late Steve Stavro of Canada. Kristin and Jennifer Paragallo are listed as owners of Nob Hill Stable. Paraneck’s private trainer, John P. Campo Jr., is listed as trainer. (Note: Daily Racing Form past performances spell the owner’s name Knob Hill Stable.)
“Before anyone would be permitted to race horses whose connections have had a previous problem," Wayne said, "the owner and trainer in their application would have to file a sworn statement saying that they have no connection with the former connections of the horse. Those statements have to be notarized and signed under a threat of perjury. Once that affidavit comes back to me, I’ll review it and have it looked at by an investigator.”
Wayne said it was his understanding that no new authorized agent has been approved for Paraneck in New York. “As far as I know, there’s an application filed with the (New York) wagering board and I don’t think that process has been completed.”
"An application has been filed which has not been acted on," SRWB spokesman Joseph Mahoney said, though he would not confirm Savitsky as the applicant. "It is being reviewed. We have a subpoena out for certain records involving the financial affairs of Mr. Paragallo, Center Brook Farm, and Paraneck Stable, trying to find out if he was the actual owner of the horses when he was only licensed as an authorized agent. We are also looking at questions involving what the daughters’ role has been with Paraneck. It is an intensive investigation. But we have certainly not acted on the application or approved it."
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Tags: another hades, center brook farm, delaware park, delaware racing commission, ernie paragallo, jennifer paragallo, john campo, john wayne, knob hill stable, kristin paragallo, New York Racing Association, new york state racing and wagering board, nob hill stable, nyra, paraneck stable, pink viper, swrb
April 30th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Wow. Paragallo is truly a very large POS. I hope they ban him and his “family” from the sport. Suspend Campo while they’re at it.
April 30th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Campo probably entered the horses at Delaware. I hope John Wayne finds out who took the entry over the phone and how that conversation went.
April 30th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Agree with Barbara that the entire family ought to be banned - and Campo, too. What arrogance.
But they all must have figured they could get away with it. I wonder how many less notorious offenders just move on to another state and no one the wiser.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Garbage has to be buried in a landfill or else there is a chance the wind will blow it right back onto the front lawn. This industry must learn that those who break and bend rules have no business within one mile of a track or in any facet of this once great sport.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
For crying out loud Paragello!!!!Give it up!!! You are a lousy crook, you keep getting caught. Find a new line of work!!
April 30th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Please let this be some kind of weird mix-up or misunderstanding on the part of the trainer or Delaware Park or something. This couldn’t possibly be intentional, could it?? No one could possibly have that much chutzpah
April 30th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
This is yet another example of why state-by-state regulation is a failure. If there were a national governing body, Paragallo would be banned nationwide, period. Delaware authorities are probably patting themselves on the back for not paying any attention to what has happened in New York. The problem with individual fiefdoms is the way they fall over themselves doing asinine things just to prove they can.
April 30th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Oh now, I ‘m sure this is all an honest misunderstanding, an honest mistake.
This guy makes me sick to my stomach along with all his enablers.
April 30th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Sounds like the Swine Flu has struck in Delaware. What kind of lawyer, trainer, veterinarian, gallop boy, groom, feed man, jockey or RACING OFFICIAL would have anything whatsoever to do with a walking sack of garbage juice like Ernie Paragallo?
Yet another example of how any industry involving movements of large amounts of cash MUST be regulated. Racing is so rotten these days. It started with better winnning through chemistry and it’s come to… this.
April 30th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I’m sorry but those daughters need to be banned as well. I can just feel it in my blood that he’ll be back and that makes me sick!
April 30th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Unbelievable, this man and his family must be stopped. They need to be banned from ownership in any form at any track in this country. Racing certainly can’t afford a liability like this clan and the horses whom have been unfortunate enough to end up in his “care” certainly can’t. It’s well past the time for a meaningful cleanup in racing…We need a national governing body that can make meaningful strides for the horses wellfare and protect them from abusive owners like this. Wake up NTRA!
April 30th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
How about that LI attorney, Savitsky,who has applied to be the agent for Paranack/Paragallo…10-1 odds that guy is in bed with Paragallo/and or Paragallo’s criminal attorney. As usual, NYRA is defending PJ Campo’s brother, John Campo…
These people must all believe we are a bunch of dolts…and no one would notice.
How long until Paragallo shows uo at NYRA as the “real” owner?
April 30th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Nothing yet on the real story at DelPark. Somebody got burned or was lied to in this situation. Paragallo knew he couldn’t race his horse, so did Campo, so the presumption of guilt is on those two individuals. If the NYRA actually knew Ernie was the real owner, as he always has been, shame on them and maybe they should burn as well.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Papa Campo: the apples never fall far from the tree.
I would like to see what filth and names Getnick & Getnick unearthed during its lengthy investigation of corruption at NYRA. Results were tossed out as they were about to be released… Then NYRA hired Mr. Getnick as a “consultant”, that deal passed the smell test within NYRA but the hush money to Getnick was terminated after the stinking deal was made public.
Ray:
Can the results of the Getnick & Getnick investigation of corruption at NYRA and its racetracks be released under the Freedom of Information Act? Could you get the whole enchilada and post it? Were the results destroyed?
April 30th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
WOW! I think Hunter S. Thompson said it best:
“It Never Gets Weird Enough for Me!”
I had to back & read it a second time, just to be sure
‘Ernie’s Daughters were named as “Nob Hill Stable”Owners..
Balls that big usually need to be gelded!
April 30th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Send those horses out here to California…we can’t fill our races.
May 1st, 2009 at 6:59 am
Those responsible for the abuse of horses in their care have no place in racing.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:44 am
From Joe:
Ray:
Can the results of the Getnick & Getnick investigation of corruption at NYRA and its racetracks be released under the Freedom of Information Act? Could you get the whole enchilada and post it? Were the results destroyed?
From a Tom Precious piece 6/8/2004: In its first report to a federal judge, Getnick & Getnick, the Manhattan Law firm appointed as the NYRA monitor, gave a broad outline of its work during its first 60 dayson the job. If it found any serious irregularities, they weren’t sdetailed in the 22 page report submitted June 7. The firm submitted a seperate, secret 44-page report and other information under seal to federal court Judge Arthur Spatt.
Sounds like the “secrets” are safe with the federal judge! Don’t know if a foil request can get at “sealed” information?
May 1st, 2009 at 8:59 am
Will look into the Getnick report through Freedom of Information Act. If sealed, it’s doubtful, but don’t understand why it would be sealed.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:37 am
Getnick & Getnick were also required to report to NY Comptroller Alan Hevesi, and the NY attorney’s office headed by Eliot Spitzer. I wonder if they got the same reports as federal judge Spatt? With all the Andrew Cuomo investigations going on right now focused on Hevesi’s office, Getnick & Getnick “stuff” may end up showing up on its own!
May 1st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
[...] owned by the Paragallo family be scratched from races at Delaware Park on Monday. The horses, Another Hades and Pink Viper, were entered the name of Nob Hill Stable after formerly racing for Paraneck Stable, the operation that is listed as being owned by Kristin [...]
May 1st, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Let’s get a few things straight (not in order of priority):
(1) This guy and his enablers (whomever they are) are scum; and,
(2) The horses he trashed, still need help (what a capitalistic pig way to do an under the radar bankruptcy or disposal). Too late for the ones he sent to the KBs; and,
(3) If you trolls in charge of racing and/or without the balls to enforce it don’t do SOMETHING, you are doomed to history’s rollbooks as killing this industry in the US! Give me an address so I can send you a Christmas Card. On second thought, you ain’t worth the price of the stamp.
Watch out for Quality Road in the Belmont….I betcha’, I betcha’! And I certainly hope.
May 1st, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Typical. Paragallo’s crimminal case is adjourned, he hasn’t helped pay for the care of the horses he neglected while private individuals and rescues are footing the bill, and now he’s back at it. When is the racing industry going to figure out fans can read the news?
Speaking of FOIA up the thread, here’s a link to Federal USDA investigation showing what goes on in the slaughter industry that gives puppy-mill style breeders like Paragallo an easy out: http://www.kaufmanzoning.net
We need Federal legislation to 1) stop horse slaughter - it’s the enabler of guys like Paragallo, 2) seize the assets of breeders who neglect their horses to pay for vet care and feed, 3) do an automatic, national, permanent racing ban on violators, done, kaput… a Federal order of protection for race horses.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
[...] Paulick Report » Blog Archive » PARAGALLO TRYING TO PULL FAST ONE … [...]
May 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this topic,so thanks for writing. I’ll definitely be subscribing to your posts.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I am the new owner of Casa Eire, one of the horses rescued from the kill pen and formerly owned by Ernie Paragallo. I am trying to find pictures of her racing days but am not having any luck. If anyone knows where I can find a picture of her, please let me know. Thanks!
May 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
NJR- First, congratulations on your new baby and thank you for saving one of these animals. I have a track rescue I got last year and he’s the light of my life! I found this NY Times article about your girl. Seems she’s a stakes winner! The 1993 Astoria Breeders’ Cup (how sad that we can’t even care for our winners!)
http://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/03/sports/horse-racing-17-1-long-shot-provides-early-belmont-fireworks.html
I would think that you should be able to contact the track photographer’s office at NYRA and see if they can make you a duplicate image of her win. (I would hope thye wouldn’t charge you since you are caring for one of these Paragallo rescues but be prepared that you may have to - they may also have a video of it too).
Here is the track photographer’s email address: acoglianese@nyrainc.com
Good luck and keep me posted how you two bond.