Dixieland Band brings back memories

By: By Don Agriss, Horse Racing Editor

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Lane's End Farm announced on Tuesday that top stallion Dixieland Band has been pensioned and will no longer serve as a stud. The 28-year-old is suffering from arthritis and can no longer cover broodmares.

Dixieland Band was one of the top three-year-olds of 1983. He was trained by Charlie Peoples for owner and breeder Mrs. Bayard Sharp. In 1983 Dixieland Band won the Pennsylvania Derby with Bill Passmore in the saddle. The next year he won the MassCap at Suffolk Downs.

Dixieland Band was one of three Maryland-based three-year-olds in 1983 who were among the best sophomores of that year. Along with Deputed Testamony and stablemate Parfaitement, Dixieland Band teamed with these two colts to form an exciting threesome that often made the trip between Maryland and the racetrack now known as Philadelphia Park.

In 1983 Deputed Testamony won the Preakness Stakes with Parfaitement finishing eighth. Leading to the Preakness, Deputy Testamony won the Keystone Stakes at the suburban Philadelphia track. The Belmont Stakes proved disappointing. Deputed Testamony was sixth and Dixieland Band was 14th of 15. However, Deputed Testamony bounced back with a win in the Haskell Invitational with Parfaitement third.

Not only was 1983 a high-watermark for racing at Philadelphia Park, then Keystone, but Maryland had the distinction of the being the birthplace of both Dixieland Band and Deputed Testamony.

Parfaitement was bred in Pennsylvania, years before Smarty Jones and Hard Spun. As a two-year-old he won the Pennsylvania Nursery the same stakes race to be won later by Smarty Jones and Hard Spun.

Another good three-year-old of 1983 was Two Davids, a sprinter based in Philadelphia. He defeated Deputed Testamony and Dixieland Band in an allowance race at Keystone.

The first few years of the 1980's provided some great thoroughbreds who made their way to the Bensalem track. Cheating Arthur was the resident king of Street Road. Temperance Hill, the defeated 1980 Pennsylvania Derby favorite, won the Belmont Stakes. The following year Summing pulled off the Penn Derby/Belmont Stakes double.

Who could forget the 1986 Derby. Broad Brush had the lead coming off the final turn, bolted to the outside, recovered to win the event.

These are some of my memories that the mention of Dixieland Band can arouse.