American Turf Magazine
/ December-January 2015-2016
16
Midwest Memo
but we talk about horses most of the
time. He’s become more knowledge-
able about the game and he’s a realistic
person.”
“Richie Ravin; he’s my man,” he
added. “We partner up in just about
everything we do; mares, babies and
2-year-olds. We talk every day. And
now Vinnie and Richie have become
good friends to (and own a number
of horses together). We listen to each
other and take in what everyone has to
say but they pretty much give me last
say. We don’t point fingers if some-
thing doesn’t work. We just move on
to the next thing.”
Rivelli is quick to point out another
vital member of the team – Dr. Jean
White. He calls her “the biggest piece
of the puzzle in this whole thing.
“She takes care of every layup, every
mare, every yearling, every baby, every
2-year-old,” he continued. “She gets
them broke and gets them ready to
come to the track. She tells me when
they are ready. She has a farm in Ocala
and takes care of the whole operation
when it comes to all the young horses
and layups. Right now she has 30
mares of mine, 12 or 13 2-year-olds
who haven’t run yet. She does all of
this on top of being a vet. We’re really
proud to have her on our team.”
Success didn’t come immediately for
Rivelli, the grandson of the late Pete
DiVito who trained for years in Chi-
cago and the nephew of Jimmy DiVito
who trains there and in Florida and is
particularly good with young horses
– something that has rubbed off on
Larry.
“I’ve been going to the racetrack
since I could walk,” he said. “I worked
for my grandfather when I was little
and worked for my uncle when I was a
little older. I went to Saint Cloud Uni-
versity in Minnesota on a full football
scholarship. I wanted to be either a
horse trainer or a pro football player.
After college I tried out for a few teams
and went to the (NFL) combine but
I didn’t make it so I came home and
hooked up with my uncle and then
went out on my own.
“I started with four or five horses
and I learned very quickly that if you
don’t win races nobody wants you,” he
said. “I had my own horses. They were
cheap horses and somehow I won with
them and people began to take notice.
“I love the sport and the hard work
that comes with it. I’ve always been
the type of person to focus on one
thing. When I was in school it was foot-
ball. Now I focus on the horses. I’ve
watched so many races. I watched all
of my uncle’s horses train when I was
little. I watch all of my horses train. I
watch replays all the time. You do it
so much it becomes second nature.
Obviously now things are going good
for me but I’ve been out on my own for
16 years and the first nine or 10 years I
was just barely making a living.”
He’s doing a lot more than making
a living now.
Larry Rivelli receiving top trainer award, Richard Ravin (2nd from right) one of his top owners
Photo by Four Footed Fotos
