Owner, former NYRA board member Paul Oreffice dies at 97

Paul Oreffice, a highly successful business executive who owned horses through racing partnerships for four decades and served on the board of the New York Racing Association, died on Dec. 26 at his home in Paradise Valley, Ariz., according to his family. Oreffice was 97.

Born in Italy, Oreffice rose to the highest ranks of the Dow Chemical Company, becoming president and chief executive in 1978. In the 1980s, he began investing in Dogwood Stables, the racing partnership founded by Cot Campbell, and later invested with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners after Dogwood dissolved.

In the partnerships, Oreffice had a part-interest in eight Kentucky Derby starters and was a partner in Summer Squall, the winner of the 1990 Preakness Stakes, and Palace Malice, the winner of the 2013 Belmont Stakes.

Oreffice’s family said that he had ridden horses as a child in Italy and had a lifelong passion for them.

“Paul was as game and as enthusiastic of a horse owner as they come,” said Aron Wellman, the president and founder of Eclipse. “When he joined Eclipse after three decades of being synonymous with Cot Campbell’s Dogwood Stables, I had no idea how powerful and meaningful of an impact he’d have on our stable, and more importantly, my life. He was a truly great, great man who was larger than life and the sport of horse racing, and everyone he meant so much to will miss him deeply.”

Oreffice had a home in Saratoga Springs and was a daily visitor to the racetrack after his retirement from Dow in 1992. He also contributed to racing causes, including the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, located in Saratoga, among his other philanthropic causes. His family said that he will be buried in Saratoga.

Todd Pletcher was a trainer for both Dogwood and Eclipse.

“Paul Oreffice was the definition of gentleman, businessman, family man, husband, and friend,” Pletcher said. “We will miss him greatly.”

Oreffice is survived by his wife of 29 years, Jo Ann Pepper Oreffice; a daughter, Laura, and a son, Andy; and six grandchildren.

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