By Mary Rampellini / Daily Racing Form
Gerry DiLaura, who for the past 18 years has been the agent for jockey Luis Quinonez, died early Thursday morning in Roseville, Calif. He was 65. DiLaura died of liver cancer, at the home of his daughter, Kelly Martinez.
DiLaura and Quinonez racked up a number of riding titles through the years, from Canterbury (five riding titles from ’95-’99) to Oaklawn to Remington Park. DiLaura was at Remington on the final night of its meet Monday, to watch a horse he bred with Quinonez, the 2-year-old Skippy Was a Hippy, win his debut in a maiden special weight. Quinonez rode for trainer Joe Petalino.
“It was an amazing night at the races,” said Kelly Petalino, the trainer’s wife and a longtime friend of DiLaura’s.
DiLaura was born in Watertown, N.Y., and grew up in Pleasanton, Calif. He is survived by Martinez, her husband, Bob, and their children, Christopher and Lauren. Other survivors include DiLaura’s mother, Eileen, a sister, Joanne, and brothers Richard and Sam, who is a trainer in California.
DiLaura went back to California on Tuesday after wrapping up business at the Remington meet. The date for his memorial service has not yet been set, Martinez said.
