Lloyd Harbor horse breeder faces trial in cruelty case

CATSKILL - A trial is starting for a prominent thoroughbred horse breeder from Lloyd Harbor who was banned from racing after 177 malnourished horses were seized in a raid of his upstate New York farm.

Ernie Paragallo's nonjury trial is scheduled to start in Greene County Court in Catskill, 20 miles south of Albany.

He was charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty after State Police and animal welfare investigators raided his Center Brook Farm last April.

He has denied abusing the animals.

Paragallo has been stripped of racing privileges in New York.

If convicted of the misdemeanor counts, Paragallo could face up to 2 years in jail and $35,000 in fines.

He was the owner of 1996 Kentucky Derby favorite and fifth-place finisher Unbridled's Song.