Champion Master Willie (GB), sold in 1982 for a reported $7-million to stand alongside Northern Dancer at Windfields Farm in Maryland, has died at the age of 24.

The son of High Line out of Fair Winter, by Set Fair, had suffered from an arthritic knee and was euthanized at Conduit Farm in Oxfordshire, England, where he had stood since 1998.

Master Willie's sale for stallion duties in the United States came at the end of a racing career that included three Group1 victories and a second-place finish to Henbit in the 1980 Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) for owner-breeder Robert Barnett. A flashy chestnut with a white blaze, he won seven of 18 career starts, with six seconds, and earned $860,703 as well as champion miler honors in Ireland in 1980.

At stud, Master Willie sired 22 stakes winners, including ten graded/group winners, from 17 relatively small crops. He has 141 overall winners from 237 starters and total progeny earnings of $8,239,822 through October 31.

One of his best sons was Deputy Governor, winner of the 1988 Eddie Read (G1) and John Henry (G1) Handicaps and the earner of $612,045. He also sired multiple graded stakes winner Master Speaker, who earned $655,579; Group 1 winner Hollywood Dream (Ger), highweighted older mare on the 1996 European Free Handicap from 11 to 13½ furlongs who earned $563,609; 1998 Italian highweight Pay Me Back, who earned $709,602, and 1999 Slovakian Horse of the Year Kata Haia Nee.

Master Willie stood in the United States until 1988, transferring to Germany before his move to Britain for the 1998 season.—Tony Smurthwaite