Louisiana racing official Peluso dies at 56

Joe Ray Peluso, a longtime racing official in Louisiana, died Tuesday in New Orleans.

Peluso, 56, was working as an entry clerk and placing judge at Fair Grounds this winter. He’d worked as a racing official at Fair Grounds for more than 30 years and had about 25 years of experience in similar positions at Louisiana Downs.

Jason Boulet, director of racing at Fair Grounds, said a family member urged Peluso to go to the doctor after saying he wasn’t feeling well Monday. Peluso declined and was found dead in his home Tuesday. The cause of death was uncertain as of Wednesday, Boulet said.

Peluso, sweet tempered, unfailingly kind and polite, was universally liked by his racing office colleagues as well as the trainers and jockey agents with whom he regularly interacted. Born and raised in New Orleans, he came to the sport through his father, Joe Ray Peluso Sr., a jockey’s agent in Louisiana.

“We lost one of the best racing officials we ever had,” Boulet said. “And we lost a good man.”

Funeral arrangements are pending.