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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

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

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

  1. ^ 2011 NYRA Media Guide, p. 93 - Trainers John Parisella profile]
  2. ^ Equibase: Stats Central - Trainer Profile Page: John Parisella February 8, 2013
  3. ^ BILL CHRISTINE (February 11, 1985). "It's a Slow Track for Racing : Sport of Kings Is Beset With Problems, Weak Management". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ California Thoroughbred Association: "A Glorious Time: Simple Majestic" by ROBERT KNOLHOFF JR. Archived 2015-11-25 at the Wayback Machine retrieved February 9, 2013
  5. ^ http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=People&searchType=T&eID=1401 Equibase records for John Parisella
  6. ^ a b c d e f Horse Race Insider: "A Brooklyn Tale" November 18, 2009
  7. ^ A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life By Bethenny Frankel p.28
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ John Pricci (November 18, 2005). "Campo Was A Diamond In the Rough". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013.
  10. ^ a b BILL CHRISTINE (June 7, 1990). "HORSE RACING BELMONT STAKES : Outspoken New York Trainer Has Some Unbridled Opinions". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^ a b c People: "Bethenny Frankel: Love Saved My Life" By LIZ MCNEIL July 19, 2010
  12. ^ New York Daily News: "'Real Housewives of New York City' star Bethenny Frankel and husband Jason Hoppy separating" By Bill Hutchinson December 23, 2012
  13. ^ LMU Lions website retrieved February 9, 2013
  14. ^ 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.
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