Meese Rocks

We regret to inform you that earlier today our champion mare, Meese Rocks, had to be laid to rest.

Just days after our “Gamechanger” post from May 2^nd, she was found to have swelling in one of her hocks.  Much to our dismay, this swelling turned out to be an infection that was aggressively attacking her musculature and immune functioning.  So damaging was her condition that, upon first arriving at the equine hospital, the physicians feared that they could not contain the infection.  They told us that it would be humane to put her down and save her any discomfort.  In fairness, they didn’t know Meese Rocks like we did.  They had never seen her train. They had never seen her race.  They had never seen her run her guts out, for us.  We told them to do everything they could, because we knew she had it in her to beat the infection and get back to action.  And to the surprise of the doctors (but not to us), she handled her treatment the same way she handled racing: like a complete professional and a true champion.  Within 2 weeks, she had beaten the infection completely, with muscular and joint functionality 100% intact.  Things were looking up.

Unfortunately, this condition caused her to favor the infected leg, placing increased (and unnatural) pressure on her other legs.  As often happens in such cases, she developed a condition called Laminitis in the hoof of her other rear leg.  This condition is extremely painful, irreversible, and often fatal in thoroughbreds.  The only hope once this condition is detected is to impede the progress from the start and hope for the best.  Again, the doctors advised us that the prognosis was not good.  Again, we told them to do everything in their power.   And, Meese Rocks did what she does.  She dug in.  She gritted her teeth and got herself better.  The infection was gone.  The laminitis had stopped progressing.  After almost 6 weeks in the hospital, she was ready to return to Aqueduct to start her second career as a Broodmare.  She was ready to come home to be with the family that loved her dearly.  Preparations were made to transport her back to the barn today, Wednesday, June 01, 2011. 

But, she would never make it onto the van.

A complication with her limonitic leg caused the condition to progress rapidly and painfully.  She was suffering and would never be able to stand or walk again.  She was in a race that she could not win.

There is truly not enough space on this page or words in the world to adequately capture what Meese Rocks meant to our barn and our family.  She was more than just a race horse.  She was a force that brought our stable to places we could have never imagined.  With stakes wins at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga (and one at Monmouth to boot), she was a constant source of excitement.  What’s more, through her talent and relentlessness, she galvanized the Terranova family, and built her own following amongst our family and friends.  In an era where families too often congregate only for weddings and funerals, Meese Rocks was our reason to be together, excited, and hopeful for the future.  The class with which she carried herself was at once touching and inspirational.  Anyone who had ever met the big girl can attest to this.

We are saddened by the fact that, owing to bad timing, we were not able to share Meese Rocks with this blog to a greater extent.  Little did we know that by the time we were up and running, her racing career would be over.  For those of you that came to the track (even all the way up to Saratoga) to support our mare, we thank you.  We could never describe how special it was for us to be surrounded by family and friends in the winners circle.  We will look back fondly on the pictures for years to come.  As we say goodbye to our special mare, please enjoy the pictures below, as well as the video from the 2011 Broadway Stakes, the last time she would ever touch the track.  This is how we will always remember Meese Rocks – lightning fast and tough as nails, leaving the competition in her dust.

Meese Rocks was born May 14, 2005, by Robert W. Misa Jr., at Duchess View Farm in Pine Plains, NY.  She is by Rock and Roll, out of the winning Grindstone Mare, Meeses Pieces.  At two, Meese Rocks was broken and trained at Heather Larson’s Hudson Meadows Racing in Hudson, NY.  She finishes with a career record of 9 wins, 6 seconds, and 2 thirds over 22 starts.  She bankrolled $443,410 in purse money, winning at ages 4, 5, and 6.  Career highlights include wins in the Personal Girl Stakes and Broadway Stakes at Aqueduct, the Union Ave Stakes at Saratoga, and the Iroquois Stakes on New York Showcase Day at Belmont in 2010.  She has given us so much in the past 2+ years and she will be missed dearly.

First start, first win (Saratoga)

Barker and the big girl

Our 1st stakes win - the Personal Girl Stakes

Meese Rocks in Saratoga - locked and loaded before the Union Ave Stakes

Romp in the Slop

Beautiful

 

Simply amazing

The Terranova family celebrates the Union Ave win at Siros

Barker and the boys at Siro's - incredible night

The Champ, ready to roll in the Iroquois Stakes at Belmont

Meese Rocks leads the field off the turn...

...and motors home for the win

Aqueduct paddock, before the 2011 Broadway Stakes

Determination

 

The last great day for the big girl

 Meese Rocks rolls in the 2011 Broadway Stakes

Meese Rocks 5/14/05 - 6/1/11