Afew generations ago, Joseph Sacco left his native Italy and made his way to West Long Branch, where he started to breed horses on a farm just off Wall Street.
Together with his son William, Sacco eventually began to train these horses, a profession that has very much defined the history of the Sacco family.
Gregg Sacco, William’s son and the third generation of horsemen, carries on a tradition of success, earning a share in the title of lead trainer at the Monmouth Park fall meet. Over the entire 2010 season, Gregg Sacco posted 20 first-place finishes and over $1 million in earnings.
“This means a lot to everybody and to me,” Gregg Sacco said of his success this year. “So much goes into it, and I’m proud we stuck in there.”
The history and success of the Sacco horsemen certainly adds meaning to Gregg’s ascension among the best trainers. His father, William, became lead trainer at Monmouth Park in 1962.
The only thing Gregg, who lives in Ocean Township, regrets is he could not share his experience this year with his father, who passed away on Dec. 31 of last year.
“I wish he was here,” Gregg Sacco said. “I probably would not be in this business if it wasn’t for him.”
Gregg Sacco and his brother, Richard, were still young when they took an interest in the family business.
“I was born into it, so I have a different perception than most people,” Gregg Sacco said.
“Horse racing is exciting. It keeps you on your toes. I am still fascinated by it,” he added, his passion for horses evident in his voice. “It is not something you can be passive about. It does not come easy.”
Gregg Sacco is very much involved in the most intricate aspects of horse racing, from the business to the animals.
“It looks glamorous on the outside, but it is an intricate business,” he said. “There’s training and cleaning daily. I couldn’t do this without my staff of grooms and the people who clean the stalls and exercise the horses.”
William Sacco and his tutelage continue to inspire Gregg, especially when it comes to caring for the horses he trains.
“My father had a lot of pride. He told us the horses come first,” Gregg Sacco said. “It’s almost like working with humans, but you just can’t talk to them. You have to figure them out. I enjoy working with the animals, and it is gratifying when they perform well.”
Looking back on his successful season at Monmouth Park and his entire career, Sacco believes his “experienced eye” also has made it possible to continue his family’s tradition.
“I can look at horses and pick up on things now, the way they walk or look. I have also built managerial skills because it is also about placing horses where they can be competitive. It is tough to make money in this business, and money does not equate to good races,” he said.
Asked about the future of the family business, Gregg Sacco explained how his son, William, 10, reminds him of his own childhood growing up in horse racing.
“My son hardly misses a race in the summer,” he said. “He has the same gleam in his eye me and my brother had.”