According to industry press reports, Stephen Brunetti passed away at home in Delray Beach, Fla following a long battle with cancer at the age of 56 on April 22. His father John Brunetti Sr bought the famed Hialeah Park in 1977, developed Red Oak Farm just south of highway 200 in Ocala, Good Chance Training Center, a 250-acre property near Belleview, Fla with a three-quarter mile training track and 100 stalls, and the Red Oak Stable.
Stephen Brunetti had a passion for breeding and worked with Rich Sacco to upgrade the Red Oak broodmare band residing at Darby Dan Farm in recent years. According to Sacco, Stephen was an early supporter of Uncle Mo. Red Oak Stable bred and raced grade one millionaire Unbridled Mo. Stephen and his father traveled in 2017 to watch her to graded stakes wins in Texas and Kentucky. Shortly after in 2018, Brunetti Sr died. Stephen’s homebred Mind Control won more than $2.07 million and won three grade ones. Stephen was also the director of racing when Hialeah closed in 2001 for Thoroughbreds and he became the owner of the casino at Hialeah with his brother after his father passed.
Sacco stated to the Bloodhorse that Stephen’s brother, John, and son Stephen Jr plan to keep the family breeding and racing operations going, although it may be reduced some.
Stephen Jr is a graduate student at the University of Miami and is the director of operations at the Brunetti Organization and Hialeah Park Casino where he oversees real estate development, property management and casino operations. He holds an undergrad degree in business administration and management from Gatton College of Business and Economics, is a graduate in business administration and management from the University of Kentucky, and is completing a graduate degree in real estate development and urbanism at the University of Miami.
