Thoroughbred stallion Danzig, who topped the general sires list from 1991-93, was euthanatized Jan. 3 at the Hancock family’s Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky., because of the infirmities of old age.

The 29-year-old son of Northern Dancer out of the Admiral’s Voyage mare Pas de Nom had been pensioned since the summer of 2004 because of declining fertility.

Danzig, who was unbeaten on the racetrack for owner Henryk de Kwiatkowski and trainer Woody Stephens, got off to quick start as a stallion with three grade I winners–Chief’s Crown, Contredance, and Stephan’s Odyssey–from his first crop. As a 2-year-old in 1984, Chief’s Crown won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and was voted champion 2-year-old male. Chief’s Crown went on to become a major winner at three and a successful stallion. Danzig not only led the freshman sires list by progeny earnings, but also that year’s sires of 2-year-olds list.

Danzig became the first stallion since Claiborne’s Bold Ruler in the 1960s to head the sires list three consecutive years. In fact, in the last 100 years, only Broomstick and Bull Lea led for as many as three straight seasons. Danzig is represented by 188 stakes winners–tops among North American stallions–and ranks among the leaders by number of Breeders’ Cup winners. In addition to Chief’s Crown, his son Lure won the 1992-93 Mile (gr. IT). Another son, War Chant, took the 2000 Mile and a daughter, Dance Smartly, captured the 1991 Distaff (gr. I) the year she was Canada’s Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year