Dixieland Brass, a Kentucky-bred son of Dixieland Band, was euthanized earlier this year at R.J. and Lois Bennett's Flying Horse Farm near Westbank, British Columbia, Canada, because of a liver malfunction. The 21-year-old stallion had stood at the farm since 1995.
Racing for Bill Farish and his grandfather, Bayard Sharp, Dixieland Brass was on his way to becoming a top 3-year-old when he was pulled up in the 1989 Florida Derby (gr. I) as the odds-on favorite and retired. In his two other starts that year, he won the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) by six lengths and also took the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II).
Dixieland Brass, who captured the Allegheny Stakes at 2, retired with five wins from eight races and earnings of $175,290. He entered stud at Dearborn/Vinery near Midway, Ky.
Dixieland Brass' best runner sired from his Kentucky days was grade II winner Brass Scale, who won the 1994 Pegasus Handicap (gr. II). Following the move to Canada, Dixieland Brass sired several good stakes winners. Beau Brass won the Speed to Spare Stakes in 2004-06; Native Brass captured the 1999 Canadian Derby (Can-III); and Always a Dixie took the 2002 Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff Handicap as a homebred for the Bennetts.
Always a Dixie is a Flying Horse broodmare. She is the dam of a 2007 Mass Market colt and is in foal to Finality.
Although Farish lost contact with Dixieland Brass following the move to Canada, he remained interested in the stallion's condition. "It was right after the Exceller scare in the 1990s when he called to tell us that if we weren't able to take care of Dixieland Brass, then he would look after him," Lois Bennett said. "We assured him we had every intention of doing our best, and we did."
Dixieland Brass is represented by 21 stakes winners. His runners are closing in on the $11 million mark.
Dixieland Brass, who was out of the Gallant Romeo mare Windmill Gal, was bred by Phil and Robert Owens and the National Bank of Paris (Ky.). He was buried at Flying Horse.