Terrible news. My deepest condolences go out to his family and close friends.

Rest In Peace Dell.

3 pages in and still can't even begin to accept this. Horrific news. RIP Steve, deepest condolences to his family, friends, the CHI-Town DT'ers - Barney, Bob, Matt.

Stunned and Sickened by this news.

Terrible news, always enjoyed seeing him at Arlington. Condolences to his friends and family. RIP Dell.

My tiny brain will never fully be able to wrap itself around things like this. Had some friendly banter here but having never met in person was clearly my loss...

RIP

Sorry to hear about Dell. I didn't really know him except through his commentary here at DT which I pretty much read on a daily basis. He was one of the regulars here that helped to make this place what it is. Sorry for the loss to his family and to DT and to his many friends wherever they might be.

Sorry to have never met him.

Condolences to his family and many pals on DT.

This pretty much sums it up for me as well. RIP

I was incredibly shocked and deeply saddened to get in my car on the way to work this morning and hear this horrific, tragic news on ATR.

I regret that I never got the privilege to get out to Chicago and meet Dell but like a number of people here I felt like I got to know him through his posts which demonstrated his passion and love for the game. I find it incredible to think he was with us playing the ponies as usual just this past Saturday. He was obviously an incredibly intelligent, witty, passionate individual who has helped make this game the greatest sport in the world.

He was one of the people that have made this forum the greatest forum in horse racing. It will not be the same without him. He will obviously be sorely missed around here.

My deepest sympathies go out to the Dellinger family, Bob, Barney, and the entire Chicago crew. May he Rest in Peace.

This sucks on so many levels. I remember a weekend at Saratoga when I first met the Chicago crew, and shared a ring tone app of call to the post that a good friend of mine recorded. We spent the whole week end playing it whenever Sam Grossman was in the backyard by the BBQ. It was hilarious seeing the look on his face
RIP Steve

Unthinkable's right. Won't be the same without Dell around, at AP, here or anywhere else. Way, way too early in life for someone like this to go.

RIP Dell

I'm speechless....condolences to Steve's family and friends, Rest in Peace Friend....

He later shared this ring tone with me at Arlington Park. I still use it and when it went off today I had a feeling of sadness but also a rememberence of what a kind fun guy he was. If after this all heals a little bit and there is something planned in his honor at Arlington please let us know because I think a few out of towners would like to attend.

There will absolutely be something later this year. Barney and I both texted in agreement last night that it would be appropriate and fitting to remember him where he most loved to be. As it comes together in due time, there will be updates. Thanks Tom for bringing it up.

this is really sad news. very sorry for those of you who were close to him. I only met him once or twice but he was a great guy.

Having a hard time believing what I'm seeing.. We will sure miss you, Dell.

I have no words to express myself...RIP Dell.

Late last night I found out the terrible news that I lost one of my very best friends Steve Dellinger. I'm still truly in shock and numb. I met Steve through the dogtrack in Delevan Wi and would go down to Arlington every now and then. Steve always made you feel good about life and would always be smiling and joy to be around. I have so many memories of Dellinger am truly still lost of words. He is one of the first people I met when I moved from North Dakota to Wisconsin. He helped me become a better handicapper and through him and Barney and GreenBaybob I got to be in the paddock in Arlington. A memory I will cherish forever! Just the other week I texted him about a horse called ATouchofstarquality who won. He had him on his watch list for 2 years. He played him in contest. Steve you are a touch of star quality! I will MISS YOU and wish I had one more chance to tell you how I appreciated your friendship. RIP my friend!

Just heard the news and am completely stunned and at a loss for words. RIP Steve, the world lost a great man. I will miss your laugh forever.

Now I really wish I had made it into that photo. Was off betting or something. Definitely an epic weekend.

This is terrible news. I never got to meet him personally, and now I won't get the chance.

My condolences to his family and his many friends. He must have been a great guy judging by all the positive words said here.

Wished I had the chance to meet Dell.

My condolences to his family and friends, Hooves and the Chicago Crew.

No no no no no no no.

Oh Dell, who am I going to spar with in the Politics thread anymore? :( You are leaving a big hole in a lot of people's lives.

Condolences to his family, coworkers and many friends.

God, this sucks.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends. I never met Dell, but i can tell from reading these stories he enriched many people's lives. May he RIP.

Damnnnn

You could just tell by reading his posts that he was a good man.

This is my first time on in a few days and it feels like a punch to the gut. And I've never even met the guy.

RIP DELL and condolences to his family and friends.

:(

Funeral arrangements are on a FB page I believe....I have them via text but am sadly clueless how to post. If someone who has my cell can text me I'll text them to you.
Bob

VISITATION -- Thursday, June 25, 2015
3-9 pm
Skaja Terrace Funeral Home
7812 North Milwaukee Avenue
Niles, Illinois 60714

FUNERAL MASS -- Friday, June 26, 2015
11:30 am
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
1775 Grove St, Glenview, IL 60025

INTERMENT -- Bohemian National Cemetary

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, P.O. Box 803, Elmhurst, IL 60126 or www.pdjf.org, would be appreciated.

Thnx Steve:tro:

Sumwon race @ CD 2007
 

Steve, Steve and Barney

Last year at this time Steve and I went to London with our friend Kevin Marko where we joined up with Brockguy to go to Royal Ascot. The day we arrived was a rare glorious sunny Saturday and it was also the day England was to play its first World Cup soccer match against Italy. It seemed as though every person in London was in a pub by late afternoon and half in the bag hours before the match began. My daughter had spent her previous year of college there and during my visis to see her, I became familiar with several choice watering holes. In Whitechapel, I knew of a pretty rough pub that was a slam dunk for providing idiot behavior from its patrons and maximum laughs for us. Smokers there can only drink and smoke on the street next to the pubs which meant the pub was empty with a couple hundred people hugging its walls outside. Once inside Dellinger spotted a girl face painting the St. George Cross ( pale white base under a bright red cross-a national symbol in England) onto the face of damn near every person in the bar. He couldn't wait to get his face painted. Unfortunately for him, I got to her first, and with a ten pound tip, I gave her specific instructions for how Steve's face flag was to turn out. She primped and painted him for about ten minutes and sent him back to us. Fortunately, there were no mirrors readily available for him to savor the art. We immediately encouraged him to step outside onto the sidewalk, start screaming "we're gonna win tonight" and high-five with everyone out there. With a half dozen Heinekens already stoking him, we really didn't have to encourage our boy all that much. He bolted out of the pub and into the center of that mob screaming and yelling like a banshee about how "we're winning tonight. That was easily one of the roughest, nastiest looking assemblages of ghouls iin all of London. Some were even men! Instead of the enthusiasic greetings he anticipated, Dellinger got pummeled with forearm smashes, elbows and body shots. And that was only half as bad as the verbal abuse. One pass through that gauntlet was all he was up for before returning to the comfort and solitude on the barstool adjacent to us. His first comment was " those f...ers really hate Americans." Apparently, they weren't real fond of Italians either. We pulled him into the bathroom to look into the mirror to see the Italian flag painted across his face that we had substituted onto his mug. We howled when he started screeching at us. But just for a minute. Nobody loved a joke more than him, even when he was the target. Keep raising hell brother. I'll miss ya.

I'm in a state of shock. I never met Dell but I always felt like I knew him. I read so many of his posts. It was obvious his personality was bigger than life just from reading his posts. I feel terrible. I can't even imagine how all of you feel who were good friends with him. My deepest condolences to all of his friends and family.

:tro: Awesome story. Thanks for posting it.

Wonderful moment in DT history
 

The thing that I will remember most about Steve would be his laugh, once he got going, it was priceless and it would make you laugh along with him.

While a great person to be around, he was also about as blunt as possible, which was very refreshing in the days of political correctness. He could be going on a tangent about something ridiculous going on and then a minute later he is having a serious conversation with me about life.

I'll be making the trek to pay my respects tomorrow night, for someone way to young to have gone, and if there is ever a positive thing to something like death, I'd like to think that maybe this happened to provide a wake up call to his friends and anyone that knew him that the next day isn't a guarantee and hug your loved ones.

This is devastating news.....heavy-hearted feelings going out to everyone here. RIP Dell

Wow....RIP Dellinger...

Didn't communicate with him much but seemingly was an awesome guy who went well before his time...

thanks for this..mac is in the frame abit also..dt at its best..

I hope he went between the first and second race, and was alive in the double. RIP

Loved watching the video from Arlington. I only experienced Dell through this forum but can feel the love from each of you and feel I know him a little better. I'll be at Arlington on July 4th and will raise a glass to him before the first race.

Very sad news. I never had the opportunity to meet him, but after reading all of these very nice comments about the type of person he was, I really wish I had. It certainly makes me appreciate even more the time we have with all of our friends and loved ones. Life is way too short, and he was taken way too soon, but it sure looks like he lived it to the fullest. I will toast to him on Opening Day. My condolences to all of you that knew him.

RIP, you will be missed by many