TRF Aids Horses Seized From Paragallo

ALBANY, N.Y. — A group that finds homes for retired racehorses is raising money to care for 177 neglected horses seized from prominent breeder Ernie Paragallo and offering to oversee rehabilitation and placement of the animals.

Diana Pikulski, executive director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, said Monday that the group is working with horse breeders, the New York Racing Association and other racing entities to raise money for the care of malnourished and neglected horses on Paragallo's farm in Coxsackie, 20 miles south of Albany.

Paragallo, who lives on Long Island, was charged with 22 counts of animal cruelty Friday. His horses are now under the care of the local humane society, which raided the farm along with state police last week.

Prior to the raid, several horse rescue farms had taken in some sickly Paragallo Thoroughbreds, including seven that were in a kill pen being fattened up for slaughter.

Pikulski said her group is offering to nurse the animals to health, evaluate them, and place them at appropriate farms.

"It takes a short period of time for a horse to fall off and lose a dangerous amount of weight, but it takes a long time to get it back up," Pikulski said. "You have to be very careful how you feed them. Their digestive tracts are sensitive. They can get colic."

A number of factors must be considered before a horse is placed, such as whether it's an untrained yearling, a former racehorse that's easy to handle, or a stallion that will have to be gelded, Pikulski said.

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation cares for about 1,200 horses on 32 farms around the country as well as adopting horses out to private farms.

"TRF has the capability to place a large number of horses," Pikulski said.

Paragallo, who has started more than 4,500 runners and earned more than $20.6 million in purses over the years, didn't blame economic hardship for the situation at Center Brook. He said it was "mismanagement" and said he had not visited the farm for more than nine months.

Paragallo, who is out on bail, is due in court April 20. He did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Monday.