Vic Cozzetti, a Washington key driver in racing for more than five decades, died Sunday in a Puyallup-supported living facility at the age of 93.
Cozzetti is a fixture in the press box in Longacres and Emerald Downs—Where he became known as “Victor the Predictor”—and participated in all forms of racing media—television, radio, newspapers, the Internet. His nightly recap on local radio was especially popular with the disabled as well as riders, providing racing results and news in the pre-Internet era of the 1970s and ’80s.
However, Cozzetti was not only a handicap and a voice in racing, but also founded one of the first ownership organizations in the US, bringing together virtual strangers through a 10% stake to own. own and race purebreds. Beginning with Media Stables in the 1970s and followed by SKS Stables and Vic-Tory Stables, his organizations’ navy blue silks were fitted at racetracks in Washington. His last horse, He’s All Heart, won the 2011 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic with a length of 10 1/4.
Cozzetti takes great pride in its acceptability, offering picks in the Daily Valley News, along with pre-race seminars and a weekly newsletter. He also sells horse insurance, program rankings, supports the television division and maintains the racing website Predictorsays.com.
Emerald Downs President Phil Ziegler said: “Victor’s achievements and contributions to the race in Washington will never be matched. “He’s been through a lot of challenges throughout his career. The people at Longacres and the Emerald Downs are part of his family, and he’s part of us.”
Born in Niagara Falls, NY, Cozzetti grew up in Spokane, playing baseball at Gonzaga Prep High School and later playing semi-pro in Montana. He eventually settled in Tacoma, where he worked in insurance and unpopular baseball as well as official football and basketball.
Cozzetti is survived by a son, Michael of Yelm, Wash., a daughter Deborah of Lakeland, Fla., and a stepchild, Jeff of San Diego, California.
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