Paragallo, Moore banned from registering horses with Jockey Club

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Jockey Club’s Board of Stewards has voted to deny Thoroughbred owner and breeder Ernie Paragallo and former trainer Chad Moore all privileges of The American Stud Book following their convictions on animal cruelty charges. The move prevents both men from registering Thoroughbred foals, but its effective date of Jan. 1, 2011, allows foals conceived before their convictions to be registered.

A number of horses previously owned by Paragallo and Moore are in the hands of equine rescue or animal shelter groups.

In March, Paragallo was convicted in New York on 33 charges of animal cruelty after state police raided his Center Brook Farm in Climax, N.Y., found many of the 177 horses there had been neglected or starved. Six were euthanized.

Paragallo was fined $33,000 and sentenced to a two-year jail term; he is appealing. Paragallo also owns a half-interest in prominent sire Unbridled’s Song, the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner he campaigned. Unbridled’s Song stands at Taylor Made Farm in Lexington, where his advertised stud fee in 2010 was $100,000.

Moore pleaded guilty to six counts of animal abandonment in Ohio after authorities found six Thoroughbreds, a pony, and a donkey malnourished at his Bethel, Ohio, farm. They also found 10 equine carcasses and euthanized two other horses. Moore was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail and is barred from owning or training animals for five years.

In a statement issued Saturday, The Jockey Club cited Section V, Rule 19(A)(4)(d) of its Principal Rules and Requirements of The American Stud Book, concerning cruelty to horses, in revoking Paragallo and Moore’s privileges.

Phipps, Janney re-elected to jockey Club posts

The Jockey Club has re-elected Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps and Stuart Janney III to four-year terms on its Board of Stewards. Phipps, a Jockey Club member since 1965, has served as chairman since 1983. Janney, a Jockey Club member since 1992, is The Jockey Club’s vice chairman and also chairs the organization’s Thoroughbred Safety Committee.

In related news, longtime Jockey Club secretary-treasurer James C. Brady will step down from that role, effective immediately, although he will continue to serve on the Board of Stewards until his term expires in 2013. His successor is Ian Highet, a partner in Court Square Capital and a Jockey Club member since 2006.