Gerry Dilger Scholarship Foundation has named Conan Murray and Mark Moloney as the 2026 recipients of its Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Experience scholarships, the organization announced Friday.
The annual awards provide recent graduates of Irish equine educational programs the opportunity to gain placement at leading Kentucky breeding operations.
Kildare native Conan Murray, a Kildalton College graduate, will be based at Springhouse Farm in Lexington. Murray brings experience from Baroda Stud and Ballylinch Stud in Ireland, along with previous work at Yulong Investments in Australia.
“I’m extremely thrilled to have been accepted for the Gerry Dilger scholarship and am really looking forward to getting started,” Murray said.
Mark Moloney, from County Waterford, will join Hunter Valley Farm in Versailles. Moloney graduated from the renowned Irish National Stud course in 2024 and has built experience at several prominent Irish operations including Clare Castle Stud, Glidawn Stud, The Beeches and Ballyhimikin Stud.
Moloney has also ridden out for Dungarvan trainer Paul Stephen Kiely and expressed his professional interests in clear terms.
“[I am] deeply interested in the art and business of pinhooking and [am] committed to building a strong reputation in this area,” he said.
The Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation provides these opportunities annually to promising Irish equine program graduates, facilitating international experience at Kentucky’s premier Thoroughbred operations.
