Multiple grade I winner and prominent sire Dixie Union was euthanized July 14 at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington because of a deteriorating neurologic problem. The 13-year-old stallion stood at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky.
His death came shortly after his son Gone Astray took the July 3 Salvator Mile Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park. Last year, Gone Astray won the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) and the Ohio Derby (gr. II).
Dixie Union raced for his breeder, Herman Sarkowsky, in partnership with Gerald Ford’s Diamond A Racing Corp. Dixie Union won seven of 12 starts, including the Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I), the Malibu Stakes (gr. I), the Norfolk Stakes (gr. II), the Best Pal Stakes (gr. III), and the Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (gr. III). He earned $1,233,190.
“We are extremely saddened by the loss of Dixie Union,” Farish said about the son of deceased Lane’s End stallion Dixieland Band. “He was a beautiful horse and a terrific young sire. We want to express our gratitude to the dedicated team of experts who helped care for him, as well as to his owners who entrusted us with him. He will be buried in the Lane’s End cemetery.”
Dixie Union is represented by 34 stakes winners and the earners of $23.6 million. His other graded stakes winners include grade I winners Dixie Chatter and Hot Dixie Chick, plus several other grade II winners.
Dixie Union was produced from the grade II-winning Capote mare She’s Tops.