The son of a stallion that had once run in selling races for the equivalent of US$200 in England, Sir Dixon proved himself the one of the best of a good crop that included Emperor of Norfolk and Raceland. He was also a good sire, though his daughters were generally better than his sons and also bred on better.
Race record
29 starts, 10 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds, US$54,915
1887:
1888:
1890:
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (1888)
As an individual
A handsome but rather lightly made bay horse whose hocks were out behind him, Sir Dixon had a rather delicate constitution by the standards of the late 19th century and did not stand hard races close together.
As a stallion
Sir Dixon led the American general sire list in 1901. His reputation as a sire can be measured by the fact that an offer of US$100,000 (an enormous price by the standards of the day) had reportedly been made for him shortly before his death at the age of 24. According to Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967, he sired 31 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Agile (USA), Audience (USA), Blue Girl (USA), Blues (USA), Kilmarnock (USA), Running Water (USA), The Butterflies (USA)
Connections
Sir Dixon was bred by the Runnymede Farm of Colonel Catesby Woodford and Colonel Ezekel Clay. He was sold at auction to owner-trainer Green B. Morris as a yearling for US$1,125. Morris, in turn, sold Sir Dixon to Mike and Phil Dwyer for US$20,000 following the colt's juvenile campaign, though he was reluctant to do so because he felt Sir Dixon was not really suited to their habit of racing their horses hard. As Morris had feared, Sir Dixon did not do well under the Dwyers' racing style. Unable to race at all as a 4-year-old, he was a shell of his former self at 5 in spite of the skills of Hall of Fame trainer Frank McCabe. Sold back to Woodford and Clay after his retirement, Sir Dixon entered stud at Runnymede in 1891 and remained there for the rest of his life. He slipped and broke his hip in a paddock accident in 1909, necessitating his humane destruction. He was buried near the graves of Billet, Leonatus and Hindoo.
Pedigree notes
Sir Dixon is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to the good stakes winner Belvidere and to Mattie T., dam of stakes winners Colonel Bill and Bohemia (both by Wagner). He is also a half brother to The Niece (by Alarm), dam of the good racer and sire Uncle, and to Lady Pepper (by Hindoo), dam of 1902 Alabama Stakes winner Par Excellence (by Kantaka). The second dam of Sir Dixon is the great 19th-century foundation mare Maggie B. B. (by Australian), dam of five stakes winners including 1879 Preakness Stakes winner Harold (by Leamington), 1881 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Iroquois (by Leamington) and 1884 Belmont Stakes winner Panique (by Alarm).
Books and media
Sir Dixon is one of 50 stallions profiled in Joe Palmer's Names in Pedigrees (1939, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association; reprinted in 1974).
Race record
29 starts, 10 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds, US$54,915
1887:
- Won Camden Stakes (USA, 6FD, Monmouth)
- Won Select Stakes (USA, 6FD)
- Won Flatbush Stakes (USA, Sheepshead Bay)
- 3rd Junior Champion Stakes (USA)
1888:
- Won Analostan Stakes (USA, 8FD, Washington, D.C.)
- Won Carlton Stakes (USA, 8FD, Gravesend)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Jerome Park)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Jerome Park)
- Won Lorillard Stakes (USA, 12FD, Monmouth)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Brooklyn Derby (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd St. James' Hotel Stakes (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Coney Island Derby (USA, 12FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd Omnibus Stakes (USA, 12FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Choice Stakes (USA, 12FD, Monmouth)
1890:
- Won St. James' Hotel Stakes (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Brooklyn Cup (USA, 12FD, Gravesend)
- 3rd Lawnview Handicap (USA, 9FD)
- 3rd Algeria Handicap (USA, 11FD)
- 3rd Coney Island Stakes (USA, 9FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 3rd Highweight Handicap Sweepstakes (USA, 9FT, Sheepshead Bay)
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (1888)
As an individual
A handsome but rather lightly made bay horse whose hocks were out behind him, Sir Dixon had a rather delicate constitution by the standards of the late 19th century and did not stand hard races close together.
As a stallion
Sir Dixon led the American general sire list in 1901. His reputation as a sire can be measured by the fact that an offer of US$100,000 (an enormous price by the standards of the day) had reportedly been made for him shortly before his death at the age of 24. According to Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967, he sired 31 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Agile (USA), Audience (USA), Blue Girl (USA), Blues (USA), Kilmarnock (USA), Running Water (USA), The Butterflies (USA)
Connections
Sir Dixon was bred by the Runnymede Farm of Colonel Catesby Woodford and Colonel Ezekel Clay. He was sold at auction to owner-trainer Green B. Morris as a yearling for US$1,125. Morris, in turn, sold Sir Dixon to Mike and Phil Dwyer for US$20,000 following the colt's juvenile campaign, though he was reluctant to do so because he felt Sir Dixon was not really suited to their habit of racing their horses hard. As Morris had feared, Sir Dixon did not do well under the Dwyers' racing style. Unable to race at all as a 4-year-old, he was a shell of his former self at 5 in spite of the skills of Hall of Fame trainer Frank McCabe. Sold back to Woodford and Clay after his retirement, Sir Dixon entered stud at Runnymede in 1891 and remained there for the rest of his life. He slipped and broke his hip in a paddock accident in 1909, necessitating his humane destruction. He was buried near the graves of Billet, Leonatus and Hindoo.
Pedigree notes
Sir Dixon is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to the good stakes winner Belvidere and to Mattie T., dam of stakes winners Colonel Bill and Bohemia (both by Wagner). He is also a half brother to The Niece (by Alarm), dam of the good racer and sire Uncle, and to Lady Pepper (by Hindoo), dam of 1902 Alabama Stakes winner Par Excellence (by Kantaka). The second dam of Sir Dixon is the great 19th-century foundation mare Maggie B. B. (by Australian), dam of five stakes winners including 1879 Preakness Stakes winner Harold (by Leamington), 1881 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes winner Iroquois (by Leamington) and 1884 Belmont Stakes winner Panique (by Alarm).
Books and media
Sir Dixon is one of 50 stallions profiled in Joe Palmer's Names in Pedigrees (1939, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association; reprinted in 1974).