by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Rockincam is finished racing, but will always be special to Stephen Farrell.

Farrell bred and owns the stakes-winning Rockincam, who saw his career ended by suspensory and sesamoid injuries at the age of 6. Rockincam last raced June 29 when he finished fifth in the $50,000 Ben Franklin Consolation at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

For his career, Rockincam won 25 of 62 races and earned $795,237. His biggest triumph came last year when he captured the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park. He also won the $40,200 Winbak Farm Pace at the Delaware County Fair in Ohio.

Linscott Photography

Rockincam was a 1:51.1 winner in the 2012 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park.

“I’ve been in this business a long time and I’m taking this one hard,” said Farrell, who lives in Ocala, Fla. “I’m in shock. But he comes first; I don’t want to take a chance on anything happening to him. He’s a very special horse.”

Rockincam is a son of Cambest out of the mare Migraine. Farrell didn’t race Rockincam as a 2-year-old, raced him lightly at 3 and bumped him up to the opens at 4 with the goal of developing a stakes-caliber horse at 5. Rockincam won a career-best $303,132 last season at age 5.

Farrell drove Rockincam in his first three lifetime starts, all wins at Pompano Park. Warren Harp and Nifty Norman trained the horse throughout his career.

“I can’t pick any one moment that stands out because every one of them was special,” Farrell said. “He showed he was something special very early on. It’s been a lot of fun with him.”

Farrell said he was exploring breeding opportunities for Rockincam, who set his career mark of 1:48.1 in winning his elimination for the Graduate last year at the Meadowlands.

“I wouldn’t mind having a couple babies from him,” Farrell said.