Great horses have fan bases, and rightfully so. Horses that electrify fans with their on-track performances are not easily forgotten by those who love harness racing. Although, as driver Paul MacDonell explains, fans’ insatiable love for the great Somebeachsomewhere has not yet subsided.

MacDonell has won more than 5,300 races and has driven his mounts to $116 million in purse earnings. In all likelihood, he will always be associated with Somebeachsomewhere.

“What amazes me today is how people still come along and want me to sign stuff that has ‘Beach’ on it, or a program, or something as simple as a card — anything that has Beach’s picture. I just find that amazing eight years later,” MacDonell has said. “People ask about him. They ask, ‘Have you seen him lately?’ They’re truly interested in the horse. I think that’s kind of neat.”

MacDonell has taken the time to discuss the horse that “sprung me to a different level.” Interestingly, that horse is not the great Somebeachsomewhere.

There’s no question that Somebeachsomewhere was the best horse MacDonell has ever driven. But if it wasn’t for Cavans Jovial, MacDonell isn’t sure whether he would have had the kind of career that led to ‘Beach’ in the first place.

MacDonell was just 21 and racing at Kawartha Downs near Peterborough, Ont. in the spring of 1984 when Cavans Jovial came into his life.

“I just happened to drive her at Kawartha Downs in an overnight race,” MacDonell said. “I liked the way she went. The owner was there and I just happened to ask him, ‘Would you be willing to sell her?’ Sure enough, he came with a price.”

MacDonell remembers the price was $12,000 and he, his father, Blaise, and Bob Hayes jumped at the chance to buy Cavans Jovial, who was in the early stages of her sophomore season.

“She went on and made $100,000 in the Ontario Sires Stakes that year,” MacDonell said. “She was a horse that launched me into driving in the OSS. She sprung me to a different level. I can remember she raced against Annie Ivy. She raced against her and Ted Jacobs had a really nice mare. There were three or four really nice ones and she raced right with them. We were riding on Cloud 9 to be able to compete against those horses.”

Lifetime, the daughter of Kawartha Skipper out of Jovial Georgia earned $142,611 with a record of 17-10-6 in 50 starts and a mark of 1:57.3 taken at the Meadowlands Racetrack in her five-year-old season.

(With files from Ontario Racing)