Violet's grandpa on her sire's side is Runaway Groom, a 1979 stallion born in Ontario, Canada who had an illustrious career. He was euthanized at his home at Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery near Lexington on June 8, 2007. He lived at The Vinery, working as the king of stallions since 1991. His racing career was 18:6-5-1, and among his achievements, he won the Travers Stakes, and 2/3rds of the Canadian Triple Crown, including the Prince of Wales and Breeders Stakes. He was the 1982 Champion 3-year-old male in Canada and was elected to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2001. He sired 123 stakes horses, 72 stakes winners, and 31 graded stakes winners, including millionaires Wekiva Springs, Down the Aisle, and Najran who currently holds the American record for a mile (1:32 1/5). Runaway Groom sired not only Violet's Groomstick, but the fabulous Cherokee Run.When he passed, he was 28 years old and had been pensioned from his siring duties since late February. When his caretakers realized that he was uncomfortable, even with medication, they decided to euthanize this champion. His Stallion Manager who cared for him for over a decade said, "Runaway Groom was a great horse with a great personality. Even at his age, he was the toughest horse in the barn to handle. He was the King around here, and he knew it. We are all saddened by his passing -- it's truly the end of an era." He is now buried in the Courtyard of the Stallion Complex at the Vinery.
I invite you to view the youtube link below. It shows this dear stallion at the age of 27, just last year, when he was sassy, gorgeaus, sexy and still the man about the walk! You can also read more about him at the other links as well.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SEKUkIacsAE
or
http://www.championsgallery.com/runaway_groom.htm
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runaway_Groom
or
http://www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com/thoroughbred/2001/Runaway_Groom.asp
or
http://www.reines-de-course.com/runaway_groom.htm