The roller coaster career of Rockport Harbor finally came to an end Monday when owner Rick Porter officially announced the colt has been retired following his latest injury suffered in the Razorback Handicap (gr. III).
"After pulling the bandage off Rockport's foot this morning, John (trainer Servis) and the vet called me to explain what it looked like after the treatment to extract the puss from his foot for the last two days," Porter said. "The wall of the hoof is cracked and the consensus is that he would need a minimum of 90 days turnout. It would be another 60-90 days training if all went well with the turnout to prepare him to race. That puts us into September and I don't think that is the intelligent choice to make. There are no guarantees that the foot will heal 100%.
"Therefore, I have decided to retire him. I will talk to persons interested in purchasing him for breeding purposes in the next few days. I hope to find a top notch home for 'Rocky.' It has been a real up and down ride but I will never forget that great stride and handsome and distinctive face. He is a one of a kind. He had all the heart anyone could ask for. We will never know how great a race horse Rockport Harbor would have been had he not been severely injured in the 2004 Remsen."
Rockport Harbor, a son of Unbridled's Song, out of the Copelan mare Regal Miss Copelan, retires with five victories and one second in eight starts for earnings of $324,800. His stakes victories came in the Remsen (gr. II), Nashua (gr. III), and Essex Handicap (gr. III).
He was bred in Kentucky by Heiligbrodt Racing Stables and Taylor Made Farm.