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'She went out with dignity' - breed-shaping Leslie's Lady dies at the age of 26

The daughter of Tricky Creek produced Into Mischief, Beholder and Mendelssohn

Leslie's Lady: dam of Into Mischief, Beholder and Mendelssohn has died aged 26
Leslie's Lady: dam of Into Mischief, Beholder and Mendelssohn has died aged 26Credit: Anne M. Eberhardt

Clarkland Farm's 2016 Broodmare of the Year Leslie's Lady died peacefully on her own terms in the early hours of today, according to Marty Buckner, who runs the family farm with her father Fred Mitchell. The daughter of Tricky Creek was 26.

"She did what 'Leslie' does. She went out with dignity and on her own terms," said Buckner. "Her last day was a good one. She was living in retirement with Hidden Assets, and they have a beautiful spot, a nice big field."

Fred Mitchell and his late wife Nancy bought Leslie's Lady for $100,000 at the 2006 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. She was a stakes winner of more than $187,000 and had already produced several foals, including at the time a Harlan's Holiday yearling named Into Mischief.

"Like a lot of the good horses, you remember where you were when you first saw them," Buckner said. "She was typically what my mom was looking for - she was a stakes winner at two, had just turned ten, and already had a few foals on the ground to her started and one of them had already won its second race."

Leslie's Lady was the dam of top US sire Into Mischief
Leslie's Lady was the dam of top US sire Into Mischief

Leslie's Lady produced 15 foals, of which nine became racehorses and seven were winners. The most successful horses bred by Clarkland Farm were Beholder, who won 11 Grade 1s, earned four championship titles in 2012-13 and 2015-16, and retired with $6,165,600; and Grade 1 winner and sire Mendelssohn, who earned $2,542,137.

At auction, Leslie's Lady's progeny generated more than $13 million in sales for Clarkland Farm. Her daughter America's Joy, by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, sold for $8.2 million at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

"You can't put into words how important she has been. She secured the future of my parents and took so much pressure off the farm," Buckner said.

"She provided to every family member and every crew member on the farm so many tremendous thrills. You could not dream this up. It was such an honour to take care of her."

Leslie's Lady was buried near the farm's entrance.


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Published on 24 January 2022inNews

Last updated 16:35, 24 January 2022

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