The Maryland legacy of Northern Dancer

by | Oct 19, 2018 | Breaking, Maryland, MD Breeding, Video

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

The remarkable Northern Dancer left a tremendous legacy in the state of Maryland, where he took up stallion duties at Windfields Farm in Cecil Country. While Windfields closed its doors in 1988 following Northern Dancer’s retirement from stud duty, the farm’s legacy and great history, including Northern Dancer’s nameplate, continue to impact the Maryland breeding industry in big ways.

Northview Stallion Station, which opened in 1989 on the site of Windfields, has had a huge impact in Maryland breeding and the Jim McKay Maryland Million, which will celebrate its 33rd running Saturday at Laurel Park.

Home to the late Not For Love, the winningest sire on Maryland Million Day with 36 victories, Northview now stands Great Notion, who boasts nine Maryland Million winners, and recently added Grade 1 stakes-placed Irish War Cry to the stallion roster.

Northern Dancer himself sired three Maryland Million winners.

“We’re definitely one of the major players for the Maryland breeding industry,” said David Wade, General Manager of Northview Stallion Station. “One of our goals is to always stay at the top of the breeding industry.”

Analyst and host Acacia Courtney recently visited Northview and Wade, who said there is still great interest in the legacy of Northern Dancer.

“Everyone around here still has a great appreciation for Northern Dancer and they do across the country, actually, and internationally,” said David Wade, general manager of Northview. “We still have people who come and they’ll see the plaque on his stall door.”