John Parisella
| John Parisella | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Trainer |
| Born | September 1, 1944 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Career wins | 1,241 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Lady Finger Stakes (1980) Beaugay Stakes (1982) Bernard Baruch Handicap (1983) Correction Handicap (1983, 1984, 1985) Distaff Handicap (1983) Firenze Handicap (1983) Juvenile Stakes (1983) Nashua Stakes (1983) Next Move Handicap (1983) Affectionately Handicap (1984) Kings Point Handicap (1984) Roamer Handicap (1984) Westchester Handicap (1984) Busher Stakes (1985) Aqueduct Handicap (1985, 1995) Garden City Stakes (1985) Gazelle Stakes (1985) California Derby (1987) Golden Poppy Handicap (1988) Maryland Million Ladies (1988) Miami Mile Stakes (1988, 1989) San Gabriel Handicap (1988) Wilshire Stakes (1988) All-American Handicap (1989) Grey Lag Handicap (1995) Battlefield Stakes (1998) Bed O' Roses Handicap (2000) | |
| Racing awards | |
| Aqueduct Champion trainer (1980 & 1994 Spring, 1993-94 inner track)[1] | |
| Significant horses | |
| Jones Time Machine, Simply Majestic, Chapel of Dreams, Kamikaze Rick | |
John Parisella is an American horse trainer[2] known for training the racehorses Fight Over[3] and Simply Majestic.[4] He last raced during 2016 and by year's end had 1,241 career wins.[5]
Early life and career[edit]
Parisella was born in Brooklyn[6] to an Italian Catholic family.[7][8] Parisella started his career as an assistant to Tommy Gullo, a legendary betting trainer.[6] His mentor was horse trainer John P. Campo.[9] Later he became a full-fledge horse trainer training horses for his uncle Joe Scandore who managed horses for James Caan, Don Adams, Telly Savalas and Don Rickles.[6][10]
Parisella pioneered the use of foreign horses, mostly from Canada and turning them into stakes winners.[6] John also trained several stakes winners for owner Ted Sabarese in the 1980s.
Personal life[edit]
Parisella has been married twice:
- In 1975, he married Bernadette Birk, the former wife of horse trainer Robert J. Frankel.[11][12] Parisella and Frankel were originally friends as well as competitors.[6] Parisella raised his step-daughter Bethenny Frankel (Birk's daughter with Frankel) as his own child from the time she was five years old.[11] Bethenny went on to become a reality TV star and entrepreneur.[11]
- He was also married to Melissa Parisella, with whom he has a daughter, Gabrielle (b. 1989).[10][13] They divorced and Melissa has since re-married twice: first to American football player Mike Keller, with whom she had two children,[14] and later to Robert Coveney.
Parisella appeared twice on the Johnny Carson Show.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ 2011 NYRA Media Guide, p. 93 - Trainers John Parisella profile]
- ^ Equibase: Stats Central - Trainer Profile Page: John Parisella February 8, 2013
- ^ BILL CHRISTINE (February 11, 1985). "It's a Slow Track for Racing : Sport of Kings Is Beset With Problems, Weak Management". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ California Thoroughbred Association: "A Glorious Time: Simple Majestic" by ROBERT KNOLHOFF JR. Archived 2015-11-25 at the Wayback Machine retrieved February 9, 2013
- ^ http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=People&searchType=T&eID=1401 Equibase records for John Parisella
- ^ a b c d e f Horse Race Insider: "A Brooklyn Tale" November 18, 2009
- ^ A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life By Bethenny Frankel p.28
- ^ Bethenny Ever After Season 2 Episode 4 - It's My Baptism and I'll Cry if I Want To 1/4. 6:45: YouTube.
I went to Catholic school because my stepfather was Catholic
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ John Pricci (November 18, 2005). "Campo Was A Diamond In the Rough". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013.
- ^ a b BILL CHRISTINE (June 7, 1990). "HORSE RACING BELMONT STAKES : Outspoken New York Trainer Has Some Unbridled Opinions". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b c People: "Bethenny Frankel: Love Saved My Life" By LIZ MCNEIL July 19, 2010
- ^ New York Daily News: "'Real Housewives of New York City' star Bethenny Frankel and husband Jason Hoppy separating" By Bill Hutchinson December 23, 2012
- ^ LMU Lions website retrieved February 9, 2013
- ^ Brian VanOchten (October 4, 2009). "Mike Keller's short stint with Cowboys on the field led to long career in sports marketing". The Grand Rapids Press.