Canada's Athlete Of The Year?

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Published: December 2, 2008 10:34 am EST

Standardbred Canada has launched a campaign for sports writers to vote for harness racing phenom Somebeachsomewhere as the 2008 Lou Marsh Trophy recipient for Canada's athlete of the year.

Below is the open letter penned by Trot Magazine editor and Standardbred Canada's Manager of Industry Communications Darryl Kaplan to the country's sports journalists.

Not only is Somebeachsomewhere one of the greatest pacers to ever look through a bridle, his dominance transcends horse racing and places him among Canada's elite athletes.

SC invites everyone to add their name to the petition by entering their name, city and province in the comments box at the bottom of the page and then hitting the Post Comment button, making this page the online petition to be signed by racing fans from coast-to-coast.

Standardbred Canada Bids to Have Somebeachsomewhere named Lou Marsh Recipient

Horse to follow in the footsteps of 1973 U.S. Athlete of the Year - Secretariat

The following is an open letter to the Committee considering nominees for Canada's Athlete of the Year.

Dear distinguished members of the Lou Marsh Trophy Committee:

In 2008, only one Canadian athlete set three world records, posted a 93.3% win average and earned $2.5 million (more than any other horse in history) in competition.

Only one Canadian athlete was considered by many international observers to have posted the most spectacular season ever accomplished in his respective field.

Only one Canadian athlete forever changed the landscape of his sport.

That athlete is Somebeachsomewhere.

Does a horse qualify to be named Athlete of the Year? If you doubt it, simply look to 1973 – when Sports Illustrated bravely named Secretariat the United States Athlete of the Year.

Secretariat raced 12 times that season but was beaten in three of those starts. His nine wins did include the prestigious Triple Crown, though he faced only five rivals in the Preakness and four in the Belmont. Over his career, Secretariat was 16 for 21.

Somebeachsomewhere, sired in Ontario and owned and based in Truro, Nova Scotia, won 14 of his 15 races in 2008, 13 of which were stakes events. Over his career, he's 20 for 21 and is among the richest horses ever to take to a racetrack.

After an undefeated two-year-old campaign in 2007, this highly charismatic performer brought thousands of spectators out to watch him every time he raced.

In the $1.5 million North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ont., he demolished the best nine pacers in the world as an adoring crowd stood on their feet to cheer him past the wire.

At the $493,000 Confederation Cup over Flamboro Downs in Dundas, Ont., he competed in two heats held just hours apart, winning in 1:51 3/5 and then 1:49 2/5 -- the fastest time a three-year-old has ever paced over a half-mile track.

At the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, he greeted fans in horse racing's heartland with a heart-stopping 1:46 4/5 mile, a world record for the fastest time a three-year-old has ever paced. The mark remarkably tied the world record paced by any horse of any age.

He won the Messenger Stakes in New York and the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final in Toronto through torrential rainstorms. He faced arguably the best group of horses ever assembled as even his rivals paced what would have previously been World Record times.

He won harness racing's three-year-old championship race -- the Breeders Crown -- with ease. Despite the grueling campaign, he is still scheduled to race twice more in December at Dover Downs in Delaware.

Somebeachsomewhere battled from May to December over deep and muddy surfaces and through horrendous conditions. He turned bettors and casual race-goers into true fanatics, and he spawned online fan clubs exceeding a thousand members.

His only loss, a neck defeat in the Meadowlands Pace, arguably became the best mile in history after he was forced to travel wide for much of the race, including a three-wide battle during the backstretch portion of the event.

Somebeachsomewhere has become a harness racing superstar – and there is no doubt that his sport is of sufficient stature to warrant consideration.

Harness racing in Canada values its participants like few other sports in the country. With an annual purse account of more than $240 million, Canadian standardbred racing ranks well above the CFL and the Canadian franchises in the NBA and Major League Baseball in terms of compensation. In all likelihood, only Canada's NHL interests will offer its athletes a higher total pay structure in 2008.

Wagering on Canadian standardbred racing, the only fair measure of attendance since tracks phased out admissions, will likely reach just shy of $500 million in 2008 – a gross revenue number matched by few in the sports world.

It wouldn't be the first time harness racing came to the forefront of Canadian athleticism. In 1971, driver Herve Filion was the recipient of the Lou Marsh Trophy.

Even in thoroughbred racing, Canada has never produced a horse quite like Somebeachsomewhere. Even the great Northern Dancer, a legend in the racing history of our country, was ranked just 43rd in Bloodhorse Magazine's list of the all-time best thoroughbreds.

Some standardbred historians place Somebeachsomewhere on the top of the all-time list, quite an accomplishment considering that long before leagues like the NBA, NHL and NFL existed, harness racing was, in the early 1900s, North America's number one spectator sport.

On Tuesday, December 2, Standardbred Canada will post an online petition at www.standardbredcanada.ca to garner support in naming Somebeachsomewhere the recipient of the 2008 Lou Marsh Award. In under a day, it will have upward of 1,000 signatures.

It is with great pride that we can call Somebeachsomewhere Canada's own. And we are very hopeful he will be named Canada's next Lou Marsh Trophy recipient as he is, without a doubt, Canada's top athlete of 2008.

With sincerest regards,

Darryl Kaplan

Manager of Industry Communications, Standardbred Canada

Editor of Trot Magazine

905-858-3077, ext.241

[email protected]

Somebeachsomewhere Sets 1:46.4 World Record

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Comments

2 December 2008 - 9:56 pm

What a tremendously well-deserved honor this would be for an extraordinary animal who is, in fact, a phenomenal athlete! Breathtaking to watch...truly, there was no better this year.

Valerie Grash
Johnstown, PA

2 December 2008 - 9:26 pm

Truro, Nova Scotia
I absolutely think Beach should be athlete of the year. There is no one more qualified with his strength and speed. He is a very lovable horse, I got a chance to meet him, and he just wanted to rub his chin on me. There has never been a Canadian athlete so dominating in his sport. He is a sight to see....

2 December 2008 - 9:23 pm

Great athlete who has created a lot of interest for harness racing.

Lynn Curwin
Bible Hill
Nova Scotia

2 December 2008 - 9:13 pm

Every once in a while the equine world produces a champion. The Lou Marsh award recognizes the best that sports has to offer. SBSW is worthy of such recognition.

2 December 2008 - 9:05 pm

This horse really packs them in.....gets the racing world talking...and brings them to the track in droves. A horse like this brings horsemen of all kinds together in a common goal...to watch, marvel at and support...and maybe dream a little about owning or training a horse like this one. One thing for sure...we are all on the same page when it comes to this kind of greatness. LONG LIVE THE STANDARDBRED!!!!!

2 December 2008 - 9:01 pm

Absolutely Fabulous. It has been an honor to watch him race. He brings tears to your eyes.Powerful, Flawless gait. A management team with the horses best interests in mind. Would be great for the sport if he raced at four but money does not go lame. An Athlete of the Year should be your best athlete. Here he is.

Marg Homenuik
Edmonton, Alberta.

2 December 2008 - 8:41 pm

Somebeachsomewhere has taken centre stage of the Standardbred sport this year, not only in Canada, but the United States as well. He will certainly go down in history as one of the best ever to set foot on a racetrack. It's been a pleasure watching him race this year, no doubt.

James Witherite-Rieg
Newark, Delaware, USA

2 December 2008 - 8:37 pm

No doubt about it - Somebeachsomewhere deserves to be Canada's Athlete of the Year.

2 December 2008 - 8:36 pm

SBSW has rehabilitated the sport of harness racing by delivering exemplary performance, integrity and excitement to the game. His attributes of power, agility and flawless gait have contributed to his domination of the sport.

Beach has produced the results to earn the Lou Marsh Trophy for Canada’s 2008 Athlete of the Year!

2 December 2008 - 8:29 pm

He's on another level and makes it look so easy.

Michael Lessard
Ottawa, Ontario

2 December 2008 - 8:26 pm

Darryl, what an exceptional submission for an exceptional athlete.

Somebeachsomewhere is endowed not only with the physical attributes that contribute to winning races, breaking records and demonstrating beauty and grace even under adverse conditions. This equine star possesses courage, heart and determination and his performance in 2008 eclipses the achievements of his competitors. Watching this superb sportsman in action is akin to seeing art in motion.

I heartily endorse Somebeachsomewhere as a worthy candidate for the Lou Marsh Trophy as athlete of the year.

2 December 2008 - 8:21 pm

Somebeach deserves to receive the 2008 Lou Marsh Trophy. He has achieved world records,is an amazing athlete, and an elite racehorse.He is the pacing machine of all times! He is wonderful and exciting to watch and he has done wonders for the sport of harness racing with lots of great publicity.The Beach deserves this honor. Best of Luck!

Kim, JW & Johnathan Beaton
Sydney, Nova Scotia

2 December 2008 - 8:05 pm

As a true admirer of all sports I have never been as drawn to one individual athlete as I have been to the beach. He turns heads with every step. Best of luck!

Mark Whidden
Truro, NS

2 December 2008 - 8:01 pm

Jean-Philippe Potvin
Québec city, Québec

It will take some times before another colt get to the 1;46;4 mark as a 3 years old.

That was an amazing year for somebeachsomewhere even with his only loss by a neck over Art Official. He will surely win the Matron next week.

2 December 2008 - 7:47 pm

Add my vote to the great list!
And I will admit that I was kinda skeptical last winter and left him out
of my Sportsman's Dream Stable BUT it sure didn't take long to jump on the band wagon!
And I was at Flamboro for the Cup and WOW!!!!

2 December 2008 - 7:41 pm

He definitely deserves the honour and the press would be terrific for our sport.

Derek Reid, Courtice, Ont

2 December 2008 - 7:25 pm

Who else...????
Congratulations to Beach and the connections..
Wade Hollett
Guelph Ontario

2 December 2008 - 7:20 pm

This horse is without a doubt the most amazing horse that I have ever seen or ever will see! Congrats to all the connections and looking forward to seeing his babies race!

2 December 2008 - 7:15 pm

I don't know if any other Canadian athlete can even come close to "The Beach" in the performances he has made this year!! Even when he was sick he put away the competition handily. Kudos to Paul for driving this Ferrari as well.

2 December 2008 - 6:54 pm

A terrific looking horse and a pleasure to watch him do so well. I would like to vote for him to win the Lou Marsh award for the best athlete of the year.

2 December 2008 - 6:52 pm

Absolutely!!! He is an incredible athete, and has represented Canada very well! To be part of the crowd at one of his races,was electrifying. Never have I witnessed the fans cheering for a horse like I did on that day. The hair on the back of my neck was standing on end.

2 December 2008 - 6:50 pm

The Beach has my vote. This may have been the greatest show we will see in years.

Chris Clarridge

2 December 2008 - 6:48 pm

This horse achieved international acclaim in just two years and is as identifiable with Canada as maple syrup. My son, serving in Afghanistan, spent his leave in New Zealand and was asked more than once about the Canadian legend Somebeachsomewhere. Heck, his likeness should be on our twenty dollar bill. He's a perfect nominee for the Lou Marsh award.

2 December 2008 - 6:46 pm

It seems to me, as a sports fan, that this year no individual in Canada has outperformed so far above the rest in his field than Somebeachsomewhere has. It would be good for horseracing, and all sports here in Canada, if he was picked as athlete of the year. I know it would be somewhat unusual to do, but it would be the right thing to do.

2 December 2008 - 6:44 pm

I really am not too fond of Pacers. However this horse is amazing, charismatic and addictive. I watched all of his races and he's a machine. Top Canadian athlete of the year, truly!

2 December 2008 - 6:36 pm

Tony Elliott Walkerton, On. Thanks for the great experience for me. I am nine years old and have seen fifteen of his races in Canada. It is even better that my favourite driver is SBSW's driver. Awesome!!!

2 December 2008 - 6:21 pm

I tried to make it to my computer every time he ran and SBSW is amazing.

Kyle Radawetz
Calgary, Alberta

2 December 2008 - 6:13 pm

A great, great 3-year old. The best Canada has produced ever. But not only that, he stood out among all sports figures in 2008. He should be voted athlete of the year.

2 December 2008 - 6:12 pm

what a wonderful horse!! with the tough time we got in quebec THE BEACH keep our dream alive thanks stephane beaudoin

2 December 2008 - 6:07 pm

Best horse I have ever seen. He gets my vote. Just wish he, and his rivels were racing at every major track in Canada next year.

2 December 2008 - 6:03 pm

Without doubt a very worthy nominee. If this comes to happen, it may well be his biggest accomplishment to date (and that is saying something)! Count three votes in this house.

Trevor, Tammy and Isaac Lawson
Nova Scotia

2 December 2008 - 6:01 pm

It may be years,even decades,before another horse like him comes along.Voting him Canada's Athlete of the Year is a brilliant idea.It will not only keep him alive in our minds forever but also inform the generations to come of his legacy.

2 December 2008 - 6:00 pm

What better ambassador for the sport of horseracing here in Canada, or for any sport, do we have than the outstanding Somebeachsomewhere? I wish he wouldn't have to go to stud for many years to come. He should be named our athlete of the year.

2 December 2008 - 5:59 pm

Nothing was more exciting this year in sports than when SBSW raced. Everytime he hit the track you knew something spectacular was going to happen.

2 December 2008 - 5:52 pm

I canot see anybody else as deserving of that honor of being named Canada,s Athelete Of The Year than the beach himself SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE.

2 December 2008 - 5:47 pm

As a young member of the RCMP back in the late fifties, I was part of a three man team which supervised parimutuel betting at Truro Raceway in Nova Scotia. Before joining the Force, I had a special interest in the sport as one of my first cousins [Del. MacTavish Sr., a member of The Canadian Horseracing Hall of Fame] was very prominent at Blue Bonnets and Richelieu Park in Montreal,P.Q. I was also a part owner of two standardbred pacers during the ninties. Because of my Truro days, I took an immediate interest in SBSW from the beginning. I have followed his career from race one and continue to do so to this day. A better looking specimen on the racetrack I have not seen. He looks every part the athelete and he has proved time and again that he's arguably the best to ever set foot on a harness track. I'm sure some of the drivers at Truro Raceway, such as Kirk Pinkney [and his sons Dave & Phil], Clayton McLeod,Frank Daniels and others would have cherished a trip with SBSW. Carl MacKenzie would have been overjoyed. I, without reservation, recommend SBSW for athelete of the year 2008 in Canada, the Lou Marsh Award. Sgd. Glen Copeland.

2 December 2008 - 5:45 pm

He's a wonderful horse to watch and his accomplishments speak for themselves. He gets my vote.

2 December 2008 - 5:44 pm

Somebeachsomewhere should be Canada's athlete of the year.

He is an incredible animal that has untied the country behind him.

2 December 2008 - 5:43 pm

YES VOTE FOR THIS TROJAN THE BEST I SEEN IN MY LIFE TIME

DEREK PEZZARELLO
RIVER RYAN C.B
NOVA SCOTIA

2 December 2008 - 5:28 pm

Proud Canadian!

Somebeachsomewhere's outstanding success has made me extremely proud as a Canadian. I particularly enjoy seeing our own doing well outside our country. I can't think of a better representative of what is good about Canada. Let's hope they pick him as Canada's athlete of the year.

2 December 2008 - 5:21 pm

What an amazing horse!!

Chelsea Chase
Calgary, AB

2 December 2008 - 5:15 pm

Rachel Brown
The BEACH is The HORSE of everyones dreams!!! ;)
He should win the award but also the respect of being a
HORSE THAT BRINGS STANDARDBRED RACING BACK...and exhilarating
Lets support him and not be cinical or talk bad
about the best horse since NIATROSS *******

2 December 2008 - 5:10 pm

The Beach has stirred my interest in standardbred racing after several years of not paying much attention. I follow his races religiously, not only in the local newspaper, but also online. I have even travelled with my wife out-of-town to see him race. He has to be seriously considered for Canada's athlete of the year for 2008. I hope he wins.

2 December 2008 - 5:07 pm

SBSW is incomparable ! In a league of his own .In 2008, no other athlete comes close to his accomplishments on the track .He is CLASS all the way .At the NA Cup he just walked the whole length of the grandstand actually making eye contact with his adoring fans before his warm up mile.

2 December 2008 - 5:07 pm

Hands down Canada's top athlete! Time for the award to go to a champion in his respective sport, not just a talented athlete who performs well and wins nothing but individual awards. No offence to Steve Nash or Sid the kid, but they haven't hoisted any championships whereas the Beach has won everything under the sun in world record fashion. Do the right thing here guys, don't overlook him because hes a horse... and yes horse racing is a sport and if any of you sports writers out there doubt it, head to your local backstretch and see what these "athletes" do on a daily basis.

2 December 2008 - 5:06 pm

Somebeachsomewhere and all of his connections are a refreshingly positive boost to the public image and awareness of our sport in a very long time.

2 December 2008 - 5:05 pm

As an equine Veterinarian for 46 years I have never witnessed a horse with such ability and physique in combination He is worthy of The Lou Marsh award as Canada's top athlete

2 December 2008 - 4:58 pm

Canada's world class athletes only come along rarely to excite Canadians and others around the globe. This is one of those rare times. Somebeachsomewhere should be an obvious choice to be Canada's athlete of the year.

2 December 2008 - 4:54 pm

I am really cheering for the beach, I believe a win for him is a win for all of us in this buisness.

Bret Litke
Edmonton, Alberta

2 December 2008 - 4:54 pm

Without a doubt, the GREATEST horse of all time. No disrespect to any past champions, but this guy is very very special. Congratulations to the connections. Brent should definitely be commended for all the work he has done with the media. Even though he shrugs off the mention of pressure, we can just imagine how the nerves must have been each time he went to the gate. The "Beach" never let anyone down. I'm going to miss him on the track.

2 December 2008 - 4:52 pm

good job daryl ,
this is an extremely accomplished horse and deserves to be recognized for his many great victories

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