Harness Racing's Best of the Decade - Race

"Art Official upsets Somebeachsomewhere in the 2008 Meadowlands Pace. One of the greatest races of all time let alone the decade. The only race that comes close is Dragon Lair's upset of Nihilator in their classic Breeders Crown race from 1984."

- Roger Huston, announcer, The Meadows and Delaware County Fair

"Although I was disappointed with the outcome, I think this was the greatest and most entertaining race of the decade. Somebeachsomewhere going three wide just past the :51.4 half and continued on to set amazing fractions only to get picked up on the line by Art Official."

- Jody Jamieson, O'Brien Award winning driver

"A race that stirred up more emotion than any many of us have ever seen in a horse race. The 2008 Meadowlands Pace was truly an epic battle."

- Darryl Kaplan, editor of Trot Magazine

"Slugfest to the end, the winner (Art Official) raced great and the horse who was second (Somebeachsomewhere) raced his heart out as well."

- Mike Kimelman, President, Blue Chip Farms

"Somebeachsomewhere was all heart in his lone defeat at the Big M. This was a race that captured the attention of harness racing fans on both sides of the border. It took the right combination of strategy and luck to beat the champion."

- Adam Mauntah, announcer, horseplayer and blogger

"Art Official's upset of Somebeachsomewhere is one of the best races of any decade. I saw Ken Rucker (trainer of Mucho Sleazy who was in the race) at the Tattersalls sale the next day. He said "On the backstretch, it looked like the last lap at Talladega", which is a pretty accurate description of how wild it was."

- Sam McKee, The Meadowlands

"I will never forget this race between Somebeachsomewhere and Art Official where Art Official prevailed, the race was just awesome."

- Jason Settlemoir, VP of Racing and Simulcast, Tioga & Vernon Downs

"Art Official edging Somebeachsomewhere in 1:47 was the most thrilling race of the decade, and perhaps the single greatest race in Meadowlands history."

- Amy Silver, Meadowlands Publicity

"Rarely will a horse get more respect after a loss than after a win. Somebeachsomewhere's shocking loss made believers out of many. When he won out not one person was surprised, and the criticisms that he did not have toughness and was winning races only on reputation was quashed - in one minute and forty seven seconds.."

- Dean Towers, owner/horseplayer/blogger

"Art Official upsets Somebeachsomewhere in a world record of 1:47, maybe the greatest race I've ever seen, they'll be talking about this one forever."

"Unfortunately for the great Somebeachsomewhere, his only career loss. But, this race will go down as a classic for its individual performances and sheer drama. And it produced a world record in the process."

- Greg Blanchard, Woodbine Entertainment Group

"I thought that Art Official presented us with the most tremendous effort I have ever witnessed from a horse in defeating the greatest three-year-old that I have ever seen."

- Jack Darling, owner and O'Brien Award winning trainer

"The 2008 Meadowlands Pace, where Art Official wore down a gallant Somebeachsomewhere, is one that sticks in the mind. Both horses showed incredible heart. Racing at its most uplifting."

- Paul Delean, harness racing journalist

"It took a "performance of the decade" to beat Somebeachsomewhere and Art Official did it - once. This is one race that I won't soon forget."

- Mike Hamilton, Woodbine Entertainment Group

"Art Official in a world record 1:47 by a neck over Somebeachsomewhere. His ONLY career loss. How in the world did Ron Pierce know he had that much horse? How did SBSW overcome the wicked backstretch to take over and be right there in a bang-bang finish? Clint Galbraith said Niatross' greatest race was his loss in the Pace elim, no doubt this was the best ever from SBSW. Thriller."

- Bob Heyden, The Meadowlands