Frank J. Bellino, 85 passes

Frank J. Bellino, 85, owner of hundreds of harness racing during his life including 2010 Horse of the Year Rock N Roll Heaven, passed away Tuesday morning (March 17) of a heart attack.

Bellino, who founded a successful construction firm and also owned commercial real estate throughout the United States, started in the harness racing industry in 1982 and has owned a number of top pacers and trotters by himself and in partnership with his sons Joe and George.

In addition to Rock N Roll Heaven, a 2017 Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductee who earned $2,748,818 during his career and went on to stallion duty, Bellino owned Pet Rock ($1,780,454), another stallion who stands at Midland Acres.

While the resident of Bronxville, New York may be best remembered for some high-priced yearling purchases along with the above stallions, his eye for upper-level conditioned horses was second-to-none. The list includes several horses that earned hundreds of thousands as part of Bellino's stable.

Classic Rock NRoll earned $814,556 during his career, nearly three-quarters of that for Bellino. Casimir Jitterbug spent six years on the track for Bellino and brought in approximately $800K while American Rage and Polak A also earned well north of $300K each for the stable.

"He loved harness racing more than any business he was ever involved with," said Joe Bellino, who added that his father's favorite race was when Rock N Roll Heaven won the Little Brown Jug in 2010.

Bellino is survived by his son Joe and many grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were not available at this time.