Fappiano (May 19, 1977 – September 3, 1990) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was named for long-time New York Times sportswriter Joseph C. Nichols (1905–1984), who was born Giuseppe Carmine Fappiano.Fappiano was bred and raced by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud and trained by his son, Jan. Bred in Florida, Fappiano was out of the mare Killaloe, a daughter of Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Fager. His sire was the very important Mr.