Dixieland Heat, the longtime Texas stallion who achieved fame as the sire of Eclipse Award winner Xtra Heat, died earlier this month at age 29 at Sue Cook’s Richland Ranch near Corsicana, Texas. The son of Dixieland Band won half of his 18 starts on the track, including the Louisiana Derby (G3) in 1993, while running for Cook’s late husband Leland.
Prior to coming to Texas, Dixieland Heat sired the Kentucky-bred Xtra Heat, who won 26 of 35 career starts and earned more than $2.3 million. One of the nation’s top sprinters, she was named the Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in 2001 and inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2015.
Dixieland Heat also sired numerous top Texas-breds, including multiple stakes winner and Texas Champion Coastalota.
He also stood in Texas at Key Ranch and Q6 Ranch.