Gerry Dilger

The Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation will hold its inaugural golf tournament and auction Oct. 10 at Houston Oaks Golf Course in Paris, Kentucky. In a short period of time the foundation has awarded scholarships to eight young people from North America and Europe. This was made possible by the support and collaboration of KEMI, Irish National Stud, Springhouse Farm, Lane's End, University of Limerick, University College Dublin and the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. This inaugural golf tournament has sponsorship and donation opportunities...

Edited Release The Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation was set up two years ago by family and close friends in memory of Gerry Dilger. Gerry was a very successful breeder and pinhooker of many top horses, including consecutive GI Kentucky Derby winners Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and Always Dreaming (Bodemeister). More than his equine triumphs, Gerry was a mentor to so many young people through his Dromoland Farm, where he nurtured and assisted them as they commenced their careers in the bloodstock business. In recognition of this, the Foundation was established...

The Gerry Dilger Scholarship Foundation has granted one more scholarship for the upcoming 2022 breeding season, allowing University of Limerick student and Cashel, County Tipperary native Luke Kevin to travel from Ireland and work at Lane's End Farm. "I would like to give a huge thanks to the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation for giving me this great opportunity to work and learn in the U.S.," said Kevin, a third-year student in the Equine Science program who has gained prior experience at Ballysheehan, Martinstown and Ballinalard Studs. "On behalf of...

The board of the Gerry Dilger Equine Foundation has announced that its second one-time only scholarship has been awarded to Roisin Whelan. She will receive a scholarship to the Irish National Stud program for 2022. Earlier this year, the foundation granted its first one-time only scholarship for a student enrolled in the University of Kentucky Equine Program. The foundation has been so well supported by a multitude of donors worldwide, that it was in a position to grant extra scholarships. This particular grant was created to give an Irish citizen...

Gemma Blumenshine is the recipient of the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation's annual scholarship to the Irish National Stud in conjunction with the Kentucky Equine Management Internship (KEMI), the board announced on Wednesday. Blumenshine's profile and strong work ethic impressed the board as the candidate who was most deserving of the unique experience and opportunity to be a part of the Irish National Stud program in 2022. Blumenshine, who grew up in Clovis, California, majored in Animal Science and minored in Diary Industries at California Polytechnic State University. She started...

The board of the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation announced the recipient of a one-time scholarship, with Shelby DeVita, a senior majoring in Equine Science and Management at the University of Kentucky, receiving a grant of a semester's tuition. DeVita has worked for Calumet Farm and is currently working as a tech at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. She is Vice President of the UK rodeo team and participates in roping and barrel racing competitions. In addition, the board announced a one-time scholarship to the Irish National Stud. Full tuition...

When Leo and Sarah Dooley announced last September that they would be starting their own boarding, quarantine and sales prep operation, they knew there would be a few factors working against them. First and foremost was the pandemic, at a time when the vaccine rollout was still months away. Plus, the couple was expecting to add a third member to their family at the end of the year. Even so, the Dooleys decided it was the right time to step out on their own, and Norevale Farm was born. "In...

Normarie Santiago Cruz has been named the first recipient of three annual scholarships by the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation. The scholarship is named in honor of the horseman who passed away this past March and is intended to promote and encourage young people who are seeking a career in the bloodstock industry. Cruz has been selected by the board to receive the funding so that she might enroll in the world-famous National Stud course in Co. Kildare, Ireland. She is a former KEMI student and is currently enrolled at...

He's out there right now, hiding in plain sight. Very possibly running today; otherwise, last weekend or the next one. Yet even from the few animals retaining real credibility--by now perhaps no more than three or four dozen--not many of us would feel terribly confident about naming the 146th winner of the Kentucky Derby. So let's just take a moment to reflect again how extraordinary was the man who was able to sieve the 142nd and 143rd winners from crops of 11,000-12,000 (and that's just colts) foaled in North America...

It didn't take long after the tragic news of Gerry Dilger's passing on Wednesday morning for his friends to decide upon the most fitting way to honor his memory: a continuing commitment to the education of young people in the Thoroughbred industry. Pat Costello said that discussions started at noon Thursday as the brainchild of Robbie Lyons and Lesley Campion in the Paramount Sales office and by 2 p.m., a Gofundme page was up and running. By Friday afternoon, the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation had already raised over $100,000,...

Funeral services have been set for Gerry Dilger, who passed away early Wednesday morning at the age of 61 from a cardiac condition. Visitation will be at Kerr Brothers, 3421 Harrodsburg Road in Lexington, KY, Sunday from 4-8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held Monday at Cathedral of Christ the King, 299 Colony Blvd., Lexington, at 1 p.m., followed by a burial at Lexington Cemetery. A Gofundme page has been started in Dilger's honor to raise money for The Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation. Donations may be made on...

Breeder, consignor and Dromoland Farm owner Gerry Dilger passed away very early Wednesday morning. The 61-year-old had been hospitalized in the ICU since suffering from cardiac arrest Feb. 24, confirmed Dilger's longtime friend and business partner Mike Ryan. "We were best friends for over 40 years," Ryan said. "It is quite sudden and a big shock to us all. He was a very, very kind man and did so much for so many people. He would give you the shirt off his back. Gerry took tremendous personal pride in bringing...