Dixieland Band, one of the original three stallions at Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky., and the sire of 117 stakes winners, was euthanized April 7 due to the infirmities of age. The son of Northern Dancer, who was 30, will be buried in the Lane’s End cemetery.
Produced from grade I stakes winner Mississippi Mud, multiple grade II winner Dixieland Band was retired from racing and entered stud in 1985 when Lane’s End was established by Mr. and Mrs. William S. Farish. The horse was bred by Mrs. Farish’s mother, Mrs. Bayard Sharp.
Among the top horses sired by Dixieland Band, whose progeny earned more than $75.7 million, were Drum Taps, a champion in England and Italy; grade I winner Dixie Union, who also stands at Lane’s End; champion Cotton Carnival; French Oaks (Fr-I) winner Egyptband; and grade/group I winners Spinning Round, Dixie Brass, Alwajeeha, and Sharp Lisa.
Among the top 10 leading North American broodmare sires for the last eight years, Dixieland Band has been represented by mares that have produced 134 stakes winners and $131 million in earnings. He was the leading broodmare sire in 2004 and is ranked seventh on the 2010 list. Two Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winners -- Monarchos in 2001 and Street Sense in 2007 – were produced from daughters of Dixieland Band.