Paragallo and Attorney Should Not Feel Burdened

re: Paragallo and Attorney Should Not Feel Burdened

MintHillFarm — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:09:30 GMT

What about Aristotle? He was another stallion that stood at the farm and the sire of my horse, Nightintheslammer. Anyone know?

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E.McAfee — Tue, 25 May 2010 04:13:42 GMT

Achilles of Troy, New York Hero, Blazing Song, Lord ofthe Thunder and Big Unit from the Paragallo stock are now standing at stud for MidLife Crisis thoroughbreds on Briarcliff Farm near Berea, KY. Phone 895-986-4362

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gammyp6 — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:47:46 GMT

Thank you Greg J for that welcome update

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Zookeeper — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:02:13 GMT

Mr. Liebman,

This is off topic, but I can't resist...

Aren't you clamoring:"New York trainers get out while you still can!" :)

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Bograv — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:58:34 GMT

My wife and I adopted 3 fillies and a mare from the EP starvation camp.It was an emotional experience seeing the results of a no feed program.I can't begin to put in words the joy we have felt bring these gals back to normal health and condition. We also had the oportunity to obtain the dam of one of our mares who was found in a killer pen by Lisa Leogrande, from Fulton,N.Y. The pen was full of EP starved horses and the trip to Canada was in doubt do to their terrible condition.Lisa rescued all that she could afford.Columbia-Greene Humane Society did a terrific job dealing with this equine nightmare.I often wonder why the employees didn't blow the whistle on EP before the situation got completely out of control.

re: Paragallo and Attorney Should Not Feel Burdened

Mara — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:29:58 GMT

I hope that one day he is feeble and dependent on the care of others, and that someone tells him, "Sorry. You are too much of a burden."

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Midway Sue — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:56 GMT

I can't believe the state of NY hasn't caught up with the rest of the country and passed a law making animal cruelty as a feloney. As far as the horses being a "burden". Yes they can be, so if you don't want that burden how about this " DON'T OWN THEM!

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onechaser — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:29:18 GMT

This man should not be allowed to own any animals ever again. He should do time in jail without food or water and see how it feels. What a shame.

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Joe I. — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:29:29 GMT

There are very few times in my life that I have felt confused & or bewildered but this is the final straw. You have two political animals in the likes of Elliot Spitzer, and current guv David Patterson, both running for their lives due to their total lack of integrity and moral bankruptcy & now Ernie Paragello! I have come to the conclusion that there must be a parasite in the NY water that attacks the grey matter leaving them and the vast string of people attached to them that haven't been named an utter waste of fresh air. I hope I never have to go to New York, or maybe I'll just bring my own bottled water?

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Kelly — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:56:00 GMT

I visited the farm at the inception of the investigation in an effort to try and help garner support from the industry in any way I could. I learned from one of Paragallo's employees that a couple of the horses on the farm had died over the winter due to starvation. What I saw was horrendous. Animals standing out in fields with rotting skin and feet, lice infested, diseased and ribs sticking out. They were hungry, weak and in desperate need of help. I made a second trip up with Joan Lawrence of the NTRA and Diana Pikulski of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) met us there. Diana and Joan, along with many horse people in the community were extremely helpful in assisting Ronald Perez and his staff at the Columbia-Greene Humane Society in the placement of many of the horses and assistance in their care. The TRF, NYRA, and NTRA were quick to help and assist in the efforts and Ron and his staff did an amazing job in getting veterinary care, food, bedding and care for the horses. In all my years as a horse owner I have never witnessed anything so sad. It is my understanding that the maximum sentence Paragallo will face is a $33,000 fine and two years in jail. It's a shame they can't lock him up in a place with no food. Maybe then he would understand how terribly these animals suffered and what a lack of responsibility and compassion he showed for them. As far as his attorney is concerned...shame on him for the comments he made. If he made a trip to that farm I don't think he would have in good conscience been able to represent that despicable human being!

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sceptre — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:05:33 GMT

This blog editorial left me with a bad taste. I felt this due not so much Paragallo's malnourished and dead horses-I was already well aware of this horror-but rather because of its bent. There were so many more productive issues to be raised, rather than simply providing a stimulus where others can vent their rage. Aside from the "Five Cross Files" this is too often the easy road taken by these BloodHorse blog topics...I also object to the somewhat illogical reasoning employed in the author's "argument". A minor point deals with Paragallo's attorney's use of the word "burden". It is meant in the legal sense, i.e. legal burden, and not physical burden as some might infer. Of somewhat greater significance is the author's incorrectly implied assertion that racetrack trainer legal responsibility and owner reponsibility are legally one in the same. For that matter this trainer responsibility is, unfortunately, more focused on use of illegal medications and far less so on the general well being and physical safety of their trainees. When is the last time a trainer was called to task over the catastrophic breakdown of their trainee-don't tell me that none were ever due to trainer irresponsibility (negligence, lack of reasonable knowledge, lack of oversight, etc.)... Better that this topic addressed potential laws and regulations to better monitor the care of horses. For example, many state-bred programs contain a residency requirement causing officials to make visual inspections at farms to insure that the mare, etc. resides within that state. How easy for them to then also inspect the relative well-being of the horses in residence-but they don't. Why not also put pressure on the various states to require vets to report neglect, with a penalty for those that remain silent. I'm sure there are other fine ideas.

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MintHillFarm — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:01:10 GMT

Elaine is right. Misdemeanor is not strong enough nor will his sentencing be... It should be a felony to abuse an animal; horse, dog or otherwise.

I have horse he once owned. Appropriately named Nightintheslammer. I hope that Mr. Paragallo spends manynightsintheslammer for what he is ultimately responsible for.

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Greg J. — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:51:35 GMT

Gammyp6,

FYI, Achilles of Troy was at Fever Stallions in New York, He is now at Midlife Crisis Thoroughbreds in Berea, Kentucky, Standing at Stud...

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Passionate about Racing — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:17:52 GMT

Is this owner for real, he actually knew nothing about how his horses were being taken care of? His sentence should have been heavier, he deserves it. I agree with this article totally. If I were the owner, I would be out there everyday checking on them. There is no excuse for this treatment. The trainer should have been on trial also. This is ridiculous!! I wish I had the money to adopt them all.

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Elaine — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:31:42 GMT

Sorry, but his sentence was insufficient. I do not consider animal abuse of any kind a misdemeanor and his attorney is clearly not well. Taking on the responsibility of even one animal means total committment - whether racing or just a pet. I have had 2 dogs and 2 horses in my lifetime. Even though they were "just pets", they were very well cared for. I made sure of that even though the horses had to be boarded out.

This type of mistreatment of animals is personal and should be to everyone. I am glad EP was found guilty, but again, his sentence was not strong enough.

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clockerbob — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:45:44 GMT

What about the vet or vets that

were paid to care for the horses.

What?

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Noelle — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:17:26 GMT

A very high level of burden? Feeding his horses? Agree with you - if that's the best defense his lawyer could come up with, his appeal will fail and - hopefully - he'll end up in jail, as he should. Too bad the sentence can't be longer and the fines large enough to really hurt.

Unbridled's Song (and any other stallion or mare from whom Paragallo is profiting) should be boycotted until/unless the Paragallo connection is severed.

It would be just too awful for Paragallo to continue profiting from the great stallion, even if it means losing a season of Unbridled's Song's progeny.

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Lucy-Goosy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:36:20 GMT

I totally agree with PomDe Terre. Paragallo is REPULSIVE! I also live within 30 miles of Paragallo's farm and own throughbreds myself. His reputation was terrible. His comments in court about not needing to feed his horses grain was absurd. Based on the severe malnutrition of those horses, what's his excuse for not feeding those horses an adequate amount of hay?? His lame excuse about family illness keeping him away from the farm was just more worthless chatter.

I also believe that this type of animal neglect and abuse should be a felony. What he did to these poor horses is unimaginable. I hope this judge sentences Paragallo with the maximum fines and jail time possible. Unfortunately, the fine is just a drop in the bucket for him. I'd rather see him repay some of the millions he won with these horses to the various people he's defaulted payment to.

Ernest Paragallo, you are a repulsive individual and you deserve much more punishment than you will receive from the court. You should never be permitted to own, race or have anything to do with a horse in not only New York State, but in the WORLD.

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tbpartnerperson43 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:24:06 GMT

It only took one partnership experience to decide that I would have no part of any trainer, or farm manager who seemed 'put-out' by my appearance at the track or farm. Recently I bought an ex-partnership horse who is most likely to become my riding horse. I put him at a farm with a trainer for $600 a month. At 30 days he was out of there. I was never sure what his standard of care was for the day, and he lost an astounding amount of weight in that short time. I'm now paying $25 a day for his care, until I can bring him home. Owners must keep an eye on their horses. Not only are we paying exorbitant bills, in some cases we can't be sure the horses are receiving minimal care.

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PomDeTerre — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:51:50 GMT

I live within 30 miles of this "farm". When the police were called in, many local horse owners/ equine vets assisted in this rescue. A gorgeous young stallion of high pedigree never made it out of his paddock; he was so weak and infested that he was euthanized on the spot. Paragallo went so far as to try to blame this "care taking" on his two daughters, one in Saratoga, one, I believe with a TRAINER license. Just 2 days ago, he was on the local TV news, attempting to defend the weight of these horses as within the "normal" parameters.

As an owner of TBs, I find his actions abhorrant, as do all of the people locally. I do not for one moment consider the care I give my animals to be a "burden", regardless of the nature and regardless if the cost, and I am not a wealthy individual. That responsibility and obligation comes with the territory.

Paragallo's negligence is appalling and his sentencing too light. I am not a PETA person, nor does it take being one to recognize this kind of abuse. Our courts need to take it far more seriously than the slap on the wrist he received. The JC got it right. I hope that the next step involves the individual owners of these animals; that they persue this individually with lawsuits of their own for Mr. Paragallo's violation of his fiduciary relationship to those who entrusted their animals to his "care". Meanwhile, Paragallo should receive two years of community service- locally- not tucked away at his LI home- mucking stalls. This underside of the industry needs to be uncovered, destroyed and held to the highest level of accountability. "Mr." Paragallo is repulsive.

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Charlomer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:33:17 GMT

I agree with the column & each & every comment, but Diastu brings up an interesting point--the others owners whose horses were staying at Paragallo's farm. What exactly is THEIR responsibility? Couldn't they have checked in at some point on their horses? Just wondering. I'm also afraid that he will simply move his operation elsewhere.

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pas — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:43:10 GMT

i remember not liking the guy when he was campaigning Unbridled's Song to the KY Derby. he was more interested in running that race than the fact his colt had a bad hoof. thought he was scummy then, i'm just surprised that it took so long for something indictable to happen.

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Gulchfan — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:43:17 GMT

“This requires a horse owner to take on a very high level of burden.”

Wow, how many of us would LOVE to have the "burden" of going to look at our horses? I know I can't afford (nor do I have the technical knowledge and expertise) to own horses, so I don't. How is there any more "burden" on Mr. Paragallo (and other racehorse owners) to ensure their animals are healthy than that put on people with household pets such as dogs and cats? I'm sorry about your father, but even if you don't live on the property, you gotta get your butt out there and check on your horses, period. If you can't do at least that, sell them to someone who will.

As for his 'fine,' are you kidding me? I realize that's all the statute allows (that's another argument), but that's...what percentage of one Unbridled's Song fee? Pretty sure Unbridled's Song was 'covering' that, so to speak, as the verdict was being read. I hope he gets the max of all penalties. Why was he only charged on 35, then down to 34 of the 177 horses on the property? And which horse who was charged for was found to not have been in bad enough condition to be found guilty on? And what a coward, going for a bench trial because he knew what affect the photos would have on jurors. Glad the judge did the right thing anyway.

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John T — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:28:49 GMT

Ernie Paragallo has been a controversial figure in thoroughbred racing for many years

so it was hardly surprising when this story broke.The sad thing is he probably won,t have to pay the

penalty he should have for showing

cruelty to so many horses.

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gammyp6 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:47:29 GMT

Me too on that absurd comment by his lawyer. EP didn't care to know what was going on at the farm. He just plain didn't care. Out of sight ,out of mind. Well it didn't work. I'd like to believe he is feeling some remorse. Not for himself which is likely but for allowing the horses to suffer. Does anyone know what became of Achilles of Troy? I often wonder if he was among those starving at the farm.