Breeders and consignor Dilger dies; had ties to two Kentucky Derby winners

Breeder and consignor Gerry Dilger, known for his involvement with Kentucky Derby winners Nyquist and Always Dreaming, has died at age 61 following recent cardiac troubles.

Dilger, a native of County Clare, Ireland, came to the U.S. in 1978, and owned and operated Dromoland Farm in Kentucky. He and pinhooking partners Ted Campion and Pat Costello purchased Nyquist for $180,000 as a Keeneland November weanling and continued to raise the colt at Dromoland.

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Nyquist, from the first crop of Uncle Mo, subsequently sold for $230,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, and then for $400,000 as a juvenile to racetrack owner Paul Reddam. The colt went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile for an Eclipse Award championship, and won the 2016 Kentucky Derby.

Dilger and another longtime pinhooking partner, Mike Ryan, bred horses together under the name Santa Rosa. The partners purchased the Grade 3 winner Above Perfection for $450,000 out of the ClassicStar dispersal held during the 2006 Fasig-Tipton November sale. They then bred Grade 1 winners Hot Dixie Chick and Always Dreaming out of the mare.

Always Dreaming, from the first crop of Bodemeister, was sold by the partners for $340,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, and won the 2017 Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby.