Former Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association General Manager Ralph Vacca passed away in his home in Auburn, WA, July 20. He was 84. Among those surviving Vacca are children Darrell (Linda) Vacca, Melanie (Tom) Bidman, Dionne Stein, Kyle Vacca and Rachel (Rich) Pring; grandchildren, Rafe, Josh, Kevin, Garrett, Teddy and Julian; great-grandchild, Caelin; brother, Richard (Linda) Vacca. A memorial scholarship in Ralph Vacca’s name is currently being established. Remembrances may be sent: c/o Washington Thoroughbred Foundation, 3220 Ron Crockett Dr NW, Auburn, WA 98001.
Born in Seattle, the first of two sons born to Ralph A. and Rose Vacca grew up in the Rainier Valley and received some of his earliest equine experience at Stoner Creek Farm in Paris, Kentucky, giving him opportunity to learn the various phases of the horse business. In April 1959 Vacca returned to Washington, joining the then WHBA (later the WTBOA) staff as field secretary. Vacca returned to Kentucky in 1961 to take a position in the advertising department of the Thoroughbred Record and later joined the Daily Racing Form. He returned to the WHBA in 1964, as advertising manager for association’s magazine and subsequently was promoted to editor and in 1973, he was appointed “interim” WHBA general manager and by the following November he was awarded the position outright. Vacca retired from WTBOA in 2007, after 47 years with the association.
In May 2020, then Governor Gary Locke appointed Vacca to the Washington Horse Racing Commission.
Throughout the years, Vacca served on the Washington Thoroughbred Foundation and THRUST boards, the Equine Art committee, and was actively involved in the Backstretch Chapel, Emerald Backstretch Daycare Center and WTBOA Youth programs. He also was on the WSU Equine Advisory Board and King County Agricultural Commission. Among his awards were induction into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame (2013) and the S. J. Agnew Special Achievement Award (1990).
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