Trot Insider has learned that superstar sire Rocknroll Hanover was euthanized on Thursday at the age of 11.
Adam Bowden of Diamond Creek Farm, a significant shareholder in the stallion, told Trot Insider on Thursday afternoon that Rocknroll Hanover was euthanized after suffering irreparable complications from colic.
Bowden said that he received word from the Mid-Atlantic Vet Clinic that the stallion had to be euthanized during surgery.
Considered by driver Brian Sears as "the best equine athlete" he's ever sat behind, Rocknroll Hanover put together a record reading 15-5-5 in 26 starts during his career on track while banking $3,069,093. Among his wins were three million-dollar races, including the 2004 Metro Pace, where he made harness racing history as the first two-year-old to pace a mile sub-1:50, the 2005 North America Cup and 2005 Meadowlands Pace in a mark of 1:48.3. The world champion was named Canada's 2005 Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year and took Horse of the Year honours in the U.S. that season.
The son of Western Ideal out of the Hall of Fame mare Rich N Elegant is the sire of six million-dollar-plus winners, including Rock N Roll Heaven ($2,774,478, 1:47.3), Put On A Show ($2,459,903, 1:47.3), A Rocknroll Dance ($1,926,152, 1:48.1), Rocklamation ($1,193,315, 1:49.4), Ticket To Rock ($1,131,163, 1:50.3) and Pet Rock ($1,010,236, 1:50). He's also sired multiple world record holders and a total of 26 winners with a mark of 1:50 or better, including his fastest performer, Panther Hanover ($365,952, 1:47.2). The 2012 O'Brien Award winning I Luv The Nitelife ($682,574, 1:50.1) is one of his most recent standouts.
Rocknroll Hanover was a New Jersey-based Perretti Farms stallion before relocating to Pennsylvania and standing at Perretti’s Newtown farm.
He was trained by Brett Pelling during his racing career and was owned by Jeffrey Snyder of New York, Lothlorien Equestrian Centre of Cheltenham, Ont., and Perretti Racing Stable LLC.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Rocknroll Hanover.
RIP ROCK N ROLL HANOVER. It
RIP ROCK N ROLL HANOVER.
It is a tragedy for all the connections of RockNRoll Hanover. He was a great racehorse and sire. We really didn't see his true potential as a racehorse and now unfortunately as a sire.
Sad day!!!
Janelle Scherbik
Such an immense tragedy. RIP
Such an immense tragedy. RIP to a great horse. Gone much too young
He passed way to soon at the
He passed way to soon at the top of his career! I wish he was still racing... 26 lifetime starts for a standardbred is way to few. No one really got to know him as a racehorse, however, at the same time he was a great stallion. I guess we will have to try to enjoy his talent through his bloodlines...So sad... Condolences to all his connections.
Sincerely,
Billy Haughton
So sorry to hear about the
So sorry to hear about the euthanization of Rocknroll Hanover at such a young age. My condolences to the connections and all who had the opportunity to know him. We certainly enjoyed watching him race.
Another great gone to soon.
Another great gone to soon. Pace with the greats......
Very sad to see such a young
Very sad to see such a young talented race horse and Stallion pass. Condolences.
Condolences to all the
Condolences to all the connections of Rocknroll Hanover. He was definitely a fan favorite and a true grit warrior who will be sadly missed...
Run free in Equine Heaven...