Dr. David A. Meirs, II, who established Walnridge Equine Clinic, passed away on Monday, March 27 at the age of 87.
Dr. Meirs inherited Walnridge from his aunts Lucretia, Elizabeth and Mary Ann in 1952 while he was a student at the Veterinary School of the University of Pennsylvania. At the time Walnridge was a struggling dairy operation in Cream Ridge, New Jersey.
After graduation Dr. Meirs was associated with a mixed veterinary practice in Freehold while trying unsuccessfully to resurrect the farm.r. Meirs established the Walnridge clinic in 1965.
With the advent of the New Jersey Sire Stakes program in 1972, he decided to become active in New Jersey’s Standardbred Industry. The first stallion to stand at Walnridge was Peerswick, a horse imported from New Zealand and acquired through Stanley Dancer.
The equine clinic is known worldwide and truly serves as a lasting legacy to ‘Doc.’
Besides having started the equine clinic, Dr. Meirs served on numerous veterinary and agricultural boards to support, most importantly, the young veterinarians he helped to become the professionals they are today.
Walnridge is now recognized throughout the Standardbred world as a pre-eminent breeding farm and an excellent veterinary facility.
Services will be held on Saturday, April 1. More details to follow.
by Geoff Dubrowsky