Columbus, OH — On June 24, 2023, harness racing lost one of its longest and most passionate owners, Peter Roccasano, of Pittsburgh, Pa. “Rocky” passed away at the Veterans hospital in Pittsburgh, only months before reaching his 90th birthday.

Mr. Roccasano claimed his first horse, Who Du Girl, at Wheeling Downs Raceway in the early 1970s for his daughter, Victoria (Howard), who is one of the sport’s most dedicated owner/breeders and author.

Who Du Girl would be the first of many horses he would own. He bought a farm he named “Rock-A-Bye Farms” in Pittsburgh where he self-built a half-mile racetrack and stood his own stallion.

He raced his horses mainly at The Meadows. His ‘claim to fame’ was being a proud partner in the horse Greengo — one of The Meadows’ fastest horses at that time, and more recently the 100 percent producer, Voluminous, dam of Taurasi.

Mr. Roccasano was a long time Army veteran who fought for his country in the Korean War.

He is survived by his daughters, Victoria Howard and Karen Painter; grandson, Joe Porco; son-in-law, Rich Painter; and great-granddaughter, Vivian Grace Porco.