Longtime Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association leader Ballezzi dies at 76

Michael P. Ballezzi, the longtime executive director of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association who was instrumental in the formation of a re-homing program for retired Thoroughbreds at Parx Racing, died Aug. 31, according to the PTHA. Ballezzi was 76.

An attorney by trade, Ballezzi served as executive director of the PTHA from 1996 to 2021 and served as an owner representative on the PTHA’s board nine times. He was considered the founding father of the Turning for Home re-homing program, which, according to the PTHA, has led to the adoption of 3,200 horses from Parx since its formation in 2008.

Ballezzi also served as an advocate for horsemen during legislative negotiations that led to the legalization of casinos at Pennsylvania racetracks in 2004. The legislation guaranteed horsemen and breeders a cut of casino revenues for purses.

“Mike Ballezzi’s impact on Pennsylvania racing, horsemen, and our retired race horses will live on for many years to come,” said Jeffrey Matty, the current executive director of the PTHA, who took over after Ballezzi announced his retirement last year. “But his impact extends far beyond the policies and programs be championed. He touched so many people on and off the track on a personal level, and that may be his greatest legacy.”

Ballezzi was named the PTHA Man of the Year in 2008 and was inducted into the Parx Racing Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2019, Parx inaugurated the M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile into its stakes program.