It has been announced that the late-great Somebeachsomewhere will soon be receiving another prestigious honour, and this time it will be coming from his old stomping grounds.
Officials with the Nova Scotia Hall of Fame have announced that ‘Beach,’ who tragically succumbed to cancer earlier this year, will be inducted into the hall during induction night, which will take place on Friday, November 2.
The 2018 Hall of Fame Induction Night will take place at the Halifax Convention Centre. Four athletes, one team, and two builders will be celebrated for their outstanding contributions to Nova Scotia sport. Somebeachsomewhere, the province’s 'winningest' horse of all time, will be the first equine inductee to be enshrined in the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.
Driven by Paul MacDonell and campaigned by Brent MacGrath for the Nova Scotia-based Schooner Stable, world champion Somebeachsomewhere won 20 of his 21 races during his legendary career and earned $3,328,755 in purses. His major victories as a freshman included the Battle of Waterloo, Metro Pace, Champlain Stakes and Nassagaweya. At three, his highlights included the Burlington (which was later renamed the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes), Pepsi North America Cup, Confederation Cup, Simcoe, Bluegrass, Tattersalls, Messenger, Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final and Breeders Crown.
2008 Pepsi North America Cup - Mohawk Racetrack
The two-time Canadian Horse of the Year was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame nine months after he retired – at the time holding eight world records. Somebeachsomewhere went on to stand stud at Hanover Shoe Farms. His offspring earned more than $87 million and he was the first sire in harness racing history to top $20 million in progeny earnings in a single season. Among his offspring are 13 millionaires, including Captaintreacherous ($3.15 million), Pure Country ($2.41 million), Downbytheseaside ($2.28 million), Huntsville ($1.8 million) and Check Six ($1.61 million).
2008 Bluegrass – Red Mile – 1:46.4
Somebeachsomewhere will be inducted with university and national team soccer standout Mary Beth Bowie, Olympic gymnast and Canadian champion Kristan Burley, Dalhousie basketball legend Anna (Pendergast) Stammberger, and the CIAU title-winning 1978 Saint Mary’s University men’s basketball team. In the builder category, softball and basketball coach and course conductor Thomas Doucette, along with soccer and volleyball coach and women’s sport advocate Margaret (Peggy) Gallant, will also join the Hall of Fame on November 2.
The evening will be hosted by Hall of Fame CEO Bruce Rainnie. As master of ceremonies for the 20th consecutive year, Rainnie will put each inductee’s unique story in the spotlight with his signature conversational interview style.
Tickets for the 2018 Induction Night are on sale now at the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Call 902-404-3343 to place your order.
For a closer look at the inductees, click here.
(With files from the Nova Scotia Hall of Fame)