by Jeff Lowe

Rockhill Native, the champion two-year-old male of 1979, died on Thursday morning at Sycamore Farm in Versailles, Kentucky. He was 32.

During his championship season, the Our Native gelding won the Futurity Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and Sapling Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park and was disqualified from first in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

As a three-year-old, Rockhill Native scored a two-length victory in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and finished fifth as the 2.10-to-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1). A bowed tendon ended his career after a third-place to Temperence Hill in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Herb Stevens trained Rockhill Native for Harry Oak, who purchased the chestnut out of Beanery, by *Cavan, for $26,000 in the 1978 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Don Robinson’s Winter Quarter Farm in Lexington leases Sycamore Farm from Louis Haggin III and oversaw Rockhill Native for many years, along with his dam, Beanery, and the *Forli mare For the Flag, the grandam of undefeated champion Zenyatta.

Rockhill Native and For the Flag were long-time companions until she died about six weeks ago at age 31, Robinson said. Rockhill Native will be buried next to Beanery.

“When Herb Stevens sold his farm, Louis agreed to take Rockhill Native to his place, and we pretty much took over his care, and we’ve been doing that for quite a while now,” Robinson said. “I had Beanery on the farm since about 1980.

“Rockhill Native was a real sweetie. He didn’t really start to show his age until about two years ago. You would never guess he was that age. I think that’s the oldest horse I’ve ever had. It’s been a pleasure retiring old horses like that. I’ve got quite a cemetery. But those three are the real stars, Rockhill Native, Beanery, and For the Flag.”

Bred in Kentucky by Dr. E. W. Thomas and Carolaine Farm, Rockhill Native won ten of 17 career starts and earned $465,122.

Jeff Lowe is a THOROUGHBRED TIMES staff writer