By Bill Finley
Ron Paolucci, who owns more than 120 horses and was the second leading owner in the U.S. last year in wins with 159 victories, has decided to leave the sport.
The story was first reported by the Daily Racing Form.
Paolucci, whose horses ran under the name of Loooch Racing Stables, likes to do things his way and that led him to make several unconventional moves that rubbed some people the wrong way.
In 2017, two of his horses were barred from racing because officials did not believe they belonged in the race. He entered May B (Werblin) as a rabbit for his top horse at the time, War Story (Northern Afleet) in the GI Woodward S., but the entry was not accepted. The stewards ruled that the horse was scratched because they believed May B was not entered with the intent of winning. Some two months later, the Breeders' Cup would not allow Paolucci to enter Heavenhasmynikki (Majestic Warrior) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies because she had never raced before.
“I was an outsider looking in in my first year in racing,” he said. “Now, I realize it was all about politics. This is a game that says it wants guys like me. But it really doesn't. I speak my mind, run where I want to, I don't believe in the politics. Just because something isn't done, it shouldn't mean you can't do it. If it's going to grow, this is a game that needs people like myself who think outside the box.”
Paolucci said he had been wavering on whether or not he should remain in the horse business for quite some time, and that a July 9 race at Thistledown was the breaking point. He ran an entry with Game Over (Mineshaft) as the much stronger half. At odds of 1-5, Game Over won by 1 3/4 lengths. But the stewards disqualified him, ruling that his entrymate Chromium (Vronsky) was ridden in a way to interfere with Game Over's competition. Chromium's rider Luis Rivera received a 30-day suspension.
“They questioned Luis dozens of times, kept asking him what did they tell you to do, how did they tell you to ride the race?” Paolucci said. “Game Over was 1-5. He didn't need any help. It was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. I think they gave Rivera 30 days because he didn't tell them what they wanted to hear. They wanted him to say that I cheated and set this up. I won't let anyone defame my name like that.”
Paolucci's horses are spread around the country with several different trainers. He said he will continue to race some expecting that they will get claimed away. Any horses he still owns in the fall will be sold at either Fasig-Tipton's November sale or at an Ohio mixed sale in December.
Paolucci, who is from the Cleveland area, started with Standardbreds in 2011. A year later, he began building his Thoroughbred stable. In the first two years he owned horses he tried to compete mainly at the top level and had little success. He changed his strategy and became a top owner at the Ohio tracks while maintaining a few classier horses that raced elsewhere.
He said once he started concentrating on Ohio racing, his stable became profitable.
“I was making money–that's an anguishing part of this decision,” he said. “I did very well in Ohio and that became the backbone of my operation. In my first six months in the sport, I got my butt kicked. I couldn't compete with these big guys. I came back home and put together a financial plan where I could make a profit. I didn't get rich off of it but was making a decent living.”
Paolucci's greatest success came with Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor), who was placed first through disqualification in the 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. He also owned War Story through much of his career. War Story has earned $2.6 million.
“I learned a lot from the day I started,” he said. “I like to think I evolved as an owner. I know that I don't know everything, but I tried to do my best and to help the sport. It's not a sport that wants help. I'm done.”
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