John Parisella (September 1, 1944 – July 3, 2026) was an American horse trainerEquibase: Stats Central - Trainer Profile Page: John Parisella February 8, 2013 known for training the racehorses Fight Over and Simply Majestic.California Thoroughbred Association: "A Glorious Time: Simple Majestic" by ROBERT KNOLHOFF JR. retrieved February 9, 2013 He last raced during 2016 and by year's end had 1,241 career wins.http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=People&searchType=T&eID=1401 Equibase records for John Parisella
Early life and career Parisella was born in BrooklynHorse Race Insider: "A Brooklyn Tale" November 18, 2009 to an Italian Catholic family.A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life By Bethenny Frankel p.28 Parisella started his career as an assistant to Tommy Gullo, a legendary betting trainer. His mentor was horse trainer John P. Campo. 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.
He pioneered the use of foreign horses, mostly from Canada and turning them into stakes winners.
Personal life and death Parisella was married twice. In 1975, he married Bernadette Birk, the former wife of horse trainer Robert J. Frankel.People: "Bethenny Frankel: Love Saved My Life" By LIZ MCNEIL July 19, 2010New York Daily News: "'Real Housewives of New York City' star Bethenny Frankel and husband Jason Hoppy separating" By Bill Hutchinson December 23, 2012 Parisella and Frankel were originally friends as well as competitors. Parisella raised his step-daughter Bethenny Frankel (Birk's daughter with Frankel) as his own child from the time she was five years old. Bethenny went on to become a reality television star and businesswoman. He was also married to Melissa Parisella, with whom he has a daughter, Gabrielle (b. 1989).LMU Lions website retrieved February 9, 2013 They divorced and Melissa has since remarried twice: first to American football player Mike Keller, with whom she had two children.
He appeared twice on The Johnny Carson Show. Parisella died at a hospital in Long Island, New York, on July 3, 2026, at the age of 81.
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