Horse Racing

Michael P. Ballezzi of Pennsylvania passes


Michael P. Ballezzi | Polite PTHA

Michael P. Ballezzi, who retired last year after 25 years as executive director of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Riders Association (PTHA), passed away Wednesday, Aug.

PTHA board chairman Salvatore DeBunda said: “We have lost not only a great rider, but also a great friend and leader. “Mike has dedicated 25 years of his life to championing the well-being and care of equestrians, and championing the interests of riders at Parx Racecourse and across Pennsylvania. When he retired, Mike left an incredible legacy at PTHA.”

A graduate of Widener Law School, an attorney, and a District Attorney in Pennsylvania, Ballezzi’s contributions to the Pennsylvania race have been immense. He was instrumental in the passage of the Pennsylvania Horse Racer Development and Games Act, which legalized slot machines in the Commonwealth and dedicated one percent of revenue to wallets, breeding incentives, subsidies. health and pension allowances; backstretch Parx Racing backstretch improvements; and helped launch Turning for Home, a race-based, nonprofit racehorse retirement program that has placed more than 3,200 horses. He also founded the Granny Foundation, which provides scholarships to permanent Parx employees to continue college and night classes.

Ballezzi has been a licensed owner of Thoroughbred since 1973 and is also a former coach. He served as a member of the board of the National Thoroughbred Riders Association (THA) and was recognized in 2020 for his outstanding service to the racing industry. He was honored in 2019 by Parx with the naming of MP Ballezzi Appreciation Mile. Ballezzi was named PTHA Man of the Year in 2008 and inducted into the Parx Racing Hall of Fame in 2014.

“The impact of Mike Ballezzi on Pennsylvania racing, our riders and our retired racehorses will live on for years to come,” said Jeffrey Matty, chief executive officer of PTHA. “But his impact goes far beyond the policies and programs he has advocated for. He has touched so many people on and off the track on a personal level, and that may be his greatest legacy.”

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This story was posted in Top News and tagged Michael P. Ballezzi, obituary, Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Riders Association, PTHA.





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