Former trainer Thomas L. "Lou" Rondinello, conditioner of 1974 Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Little Current, died Nov. 27 at the age of 95.
Rondinello, a longtime fixture on the New York racing circuit, was best known for being the private trainer of John Galbreath's Darby Dan Farm. He trained for the potent operation for 15 years, developing such Darby Dan stars as Little Current, True Knight, Cum Laude Laurie, Tempest Queen, and His Majesty.
Born in Harrison, N.Y., in 1928, Rondinello served two years in the Army, stationed in Japan, after completing high school. He then got into the horse racing industry, training a few horses on his own before securing a job as the assistant trainer to Darby Dan Farm's trainer Jimmy Conway. He then worked under Lloyd Gentry, Jr., who had taken over as the Darby Dan trainer, when the stable's homebred Proud Clarion won the 1967 Kentucky Derby.
Rondinello officially took the reins as Darby Dan's trainer in 1970, getting off to a hot start when His Majesty captured the 1971 Everglades Stakes at Hialeah Race Track. Little Current, arguably his best trainee, was voted the champion 3-year-old male of 1974.
Equibase lists Rondinello's records as a trainer back to 1970, crediting him with training the winners of 400 races for earnings of $8,607,605. He retired from training in 1987.
A service for Rondinello was held Dec. 1 at the Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Home in West Islip, N.Y.
