SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE
Harness Racing's Racehorse Of The Decade
Where does Somebeachsomewhere rank among the best standardbreds to ever look through a bridle? A berth in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame a mere nine months after he finished his racing career speaks volumes. Now he's the selection as harness racing's racehorse of the decade.
'The Beach' compiled over $3.2 million in 21 races, winning 20 of them for earnings of $156,655 per start. Somebeachsomewhere banked $2,448,003 in 2008 during his three-year-old campaign, a new record for single-season earnings. Along the way, he set four world records, including the fastest mile in the history of the sport (1:46.4) and recorded sub-1:50 miles in exactly half of his 20 wins.
By the end of Somebeachsomewhere’s perfect (six-for-six) freshman season, the mainstream media had already came to court 'Beach'. In 2008, Somebeachsomewhere was one of the biggest news and sports stories of the year in Canada. He was considered for the Lou Marsh Award honouring Canada's athlete of the year. He was featured on CBC’s The National news program and he was named the Newsmaker of the Year for Nova Scotia by the CBC. He was profiled in the nation’s biggest newspapers and on national radio. He and his connections made the cover of industry trade publications 18 times.
Trainer and co-owner Brent MacGrath perhaps said it best when he said that Somebeachsomewhere “is the horse of a lifetime. Simple.”
What They Said About Somebeachsomewhere:
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"No horse in the last 10 years has captivated fans like 'The Beach'. He will certainly go down as one of the sport's all-time greats." - Greg Blanchard, Woodbine Entertainment Group |
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"I've been watching harness racing for half a century. These two (Somebeachsomewhere and Muscle Hill) are respectively the greatest performers of each gait that I've had the privilege to see." - Murray Brown, Publicity Director, Hanover Shoe Farms (selected Somebeachsomewhere in a tie with Muscle Hill) |
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"I have to give it to SBSW not only for what he did on the track but for the way he created excitement and enthusiasm from the fans." - Jack Darling, owner and O'Brien Award winning trainer |
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"Dynamic. Powerful. Fast. Versatile. Any sized track. All comers. At 2 & 3. 20/21 lifetime, over $3 million and was as good at the end as ever. No horse gave greater memories in the past decade." - Bob Heyden, The Meadowlands |
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"Somebeachsomewhere was the best racehorse of the decade and one of the best equine athletes ever to compete." - Darryl Kaplan, editor of Trot Magazine |
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"Looking back at the last decade, two things stand out among all others - Muscle Hill and Somebeachsomewhere. They had it all - the allure of Hollywood stars, blazing speed, incredible stamina plus charisma and desire. They had the undivided attention of the harness racing world EVERY time they swung behind the starting gate, and boy will they be missed." - Ken Middleton, announcer, Mohawk and Woodbine Racetracks (selected Somebeachsomewhere in a tie with Muscle Hill) |
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"Somebeachsomewhere not only for his racing success but more important for the positive impact that he had on the business attracting such great crowds, enthusiasm everywhere he raced." - Bill O'Donnell, Hall of Fame driver and president of Central Ontario Standardbred Association |
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"He was generational. He was the new, modern speedy racehorse." - Dean Towers, owner, horseplayer and blogger |
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"Somebeachsomewhere - 2008 U.S. Horse of the Year, easily the greatest pacer I ever saw." - Ken Warkentin, The Meadowlands (selected Somebeachsomewhere in a tie with Muscle Hill) |
Top Three In Voting
1. Somebeachsomewhere
2. Muscle Hill
3. Gallo Blue Chip
C.Renon You got to be
C.Renon You got to be kidding right? I know Moni Maker only raced 1 year of the last decade but...... and how about Victory Tilly? How many years did he race? How many races did he win? How much money did he win? how many different countries did he win in? Think he has your experts top picks beat by every measure! they might want to reconsider!!!!
In reply to C.Renon You got to be by c.a.r.
Moni Maker, Varenne, Victory
Moni Maker, Varenne, Victory Tilly...all great horses. You are correct in that Moni Maker only raced one year out of the decade, so in assessing her impact on the decade we only considered that year. Varenne and Victory Tilly though were fantastic competitors and if they raced more in North America I'm sure they would have ranked higher.
-JP
Yes, Somebeachsomewhere was
Yes, Somebeachsomewhere was one of the greatest og the decade. But what about Admirals Express??
No doubt about it. I agree
No doubt about it. I agree 100% :)