Derby winning-owner Cornacchia dies

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Cornacchia made his mark in the board

game industry as the manufacturer of Trivial Pursuit and president and founder

of The Games Gang, which brought the world Pictionary and Balderdash.

He partnered with B. Giles Brophy and William Condren to buy Strike the Gold

as a two-year-old in 1990, and found himself in the Churchill Downs winner's

circle a year later. Cornacchia and Condren repeated the Derby feat in 1994 with

Go for Gin, and also teamed up to win the 1996 Preakness (G1) with Louis

Quatorze, who went on to finish a nose second in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Cornacchia, a second generation printer for 30 years in the East Village of

Manhattan, was appointed to the NYRA Board in September 1998 by New York

Governor George Pataki and served through September 2008.

"Joe Cornacchia was a thoughtful and caring man who had a deep love for horse

racing," NYRA Chairman C. Steven Duncker said. "He had incredible business

acumen, which he displayed in both the board game industry and in winning three

prestigious Triple Crown races. His presence at the racetrack will be sorely

missed."

Cornacchia was also a board member of Good Shepard Services, which provides

housing and education for young people in New York.

He is best remembered around the race track for his dapper fashion sense and

his unfailingly kind disposition. His passions beyond racing included boating,

golf (he had two holes-in-one to his credit) and family.

Cornacchia is survived by his wife Eileen, sons Jim and Brian, stepson Ryan,

daughter-in-law Amanda and grandchildren Colin and Caitlin.