Dixieland Band pensioned by Lane's End

Dixieland Band has been pensioned from stud duties at Lane's End Farm near Versailles.

Dixieland Band sired 115 stakes winners, according to a release from the farm, with progeny earnings in excess of $73.7 million,

The 28-year-old remains in good overall health, but his arthritis has prompted his retirement. He will remain at Lane's End.

Dixieland Band won the Grade II Pennsylvania Derby and Grade II Massachusetts Handicap before he was retired in 1985. He is one of the original three stallions to enter stud at Lane's End (the others were Fit to Fight and Hero's Honor).

Dixieland Band is a son of Northern Dancer, out of the Grade I winner Mississippi Mud. Among the Grade I winners he sired are Drum Taps, a champion in England and Italy; Dixie Union, who is the co-leading sire of 2-year-olds by number of 2008 stakes winners and who also stands at Lane's End; champion Cotton Carnival; French Oaks winner Egyptband; Spinning Round; Dixie Brass; and Sharp Lisa. In 2008, during Keeneland's fall meet, Dixieland Band was represented by Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes winner Alwajeeha.

As a broodmare sire, Dixieland Band has had 120 stakes winners — including Kentucky Derby winners Monarchos (2000) and Street Sense (2007) — and $116 million in earnings. He was the leading broodmare sire in 2004 and the leading active broodmare sire in North America in 2007 and 2008.

This story was originally published December 2, 2008 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Dixieland Band pensioned by Lane's End."