Diane Dudley

Diane Dudley is a self-professed Florida farm girl, having grown up on a cattle ranch in Ocala. Having been around horses all her life, the transition to the Thoroughbred business was an easy one when she married her late husband Scott Dudley in 1970. Dudley was the son of Jack Dudley, who raced 1956 Florida-bred Kentucky Derby winner Needles with partner Bonnie Heath as D & H Stable. Shortly after their marriage, Scott and Diane Dudley moved to Dudley Farm and took over managing the operation.

After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in education, Diane taught for 10 years at Forest High School in Ocala. Shortly thereafter, she began helping Scott manage Dudley Farm and it soon became a full-time partnership. The commercial operation enjoyed a substantial success over the years.

Among the recent Florida-bred stakes winners raised at Dudley Farm are Adhocracy, Valid Romeo, The Silver Move, Supah Gem, Gator Back, Golden Par, Tee Kay, Cee Score, Cagey Move, Well Dressed, B.B. Best, Special Report, Redoubled Miss, Valid Forbes, Pharmstar, Halo Reality, Classic Endeavor, Tahkodha Hills, Classic Par and Giant Gentleman.

The Dudleys were thrust into the limelight in the spring of 1997 when Florida-bred Silver Charm, bred by clients Mary Lou and Gordon Wootton and raised at Dudley farm, won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, while finishing second in the Belmont Stakes of the Triple Crown Series. The Dudleys were great ambassadors for the Florida Thoroughbred industry, being featured in stories in USA Today and during the ABC coverage of the Triple Crown races.