This Saturday at Pimlico, in the race after the Barbaro Stakes, the Dixie Stakes, a 5 year old stallion, born April 17, 2002, twisted his ankle, dislocated it, and as he came down, his bones came through his flesh. He had to be euthanized. Mending Fences was the son of Forestry (Storm Cat) and Mended Heart. He had 26 starts in his life, and had won 5 of his last 7 races. His lifetime earnings were $231,400. He was his own sire's top race earner this 2007. His mom and dad, Linette and Rob Miller of Palm Beach, were very proud of him. Linette said, "It has become quite the family affair. We are becoming known in this community as the group of screaming women in the crowd, cheering for our horses." Her husband said, "Mending Fences has really come into his own this year. If he has a good year the rest of this year, ultimately he will be a stallion." Mending Fences never earned that privilege, fatally injuring himself in a turf race. He's related to Violet through one of my favorite lines: Wild Risk, Wild Violet, Wood Violet. They also share a little Traffic Court, as well as the usual suspects through Mending Fences' Secretariat line.
