Posts Tagged ‘animal cruelty’

By Ray Paulick
Officials in Delaware have ordered two horses 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 and Jennifer Paragallo, daughter of Ernie Paragallo.

Paragallo was recently charged on 22 criminal counts of animal cruelty at his Center Brook Farm in upstate New York. As a result of the case, in which scores of horses were found malnourished, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board launched an investigation into the Paragallo family and the roles of the father and the two daughters in Paraneck. Paragallo had his owner’s license revoked in 2005 for financial irresponsibility, but he was allowed to be licensed as authorized agent for the stable. The New York Racing Association banned Paraneck horses from running at its tracks until a new authorized agent is approved, one who is not related to the Paragallos and has not worked prevoiusly for the operation. The Paulick Report reported Friday that Melville, N.Y., attorney Robert Savitsky has applied for a license as authorized agent to the newly formed Nob Hill Stable, but that application has not been approved by the SRWB. 

Delaware Racing Commission executive director John Wayne confirmed the scratch of the two horses from Monday’s racing program but could not comment because the matter was still under review.

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UPDATED 11 P.M.

Ernie Paragallo remained in jail awaiting The Paulick Report has learned that Ernie Paragallo is facing 22 counts of animal cruelty in connection with the poor condition of the Thoroughbred horses at his Center Brook Farm in Climax, N.Y., discovered when state police and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals raided the farm on Wednesday. The Paulick Report first reported April 3 that several undernourished horses with lice and open wounds owned by Paragallo were rescued from a New York livestock auction in March.

He is being arraigned later this afternoon at the Coxsackie Town Court in Coxsackie, N.Y. According to published reports, Paragallo could face up to a $1,000 fine and a year in jail for each count. 

According to the New York Daily News, Paragallo had not made bail as of 9:40 p.m. However, the New York State Police told the Paulick Report at 10:45 p.m. that Paragallo had been released on bail sometime in the last hour.

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