Brent MacGrath, Somebeachsomewhere's co-owning trainer, has discussed his feelings on the U.S. Horse of the Year award.
"It’s a very important honour," he was quoted as saying in an article on thechronicleherald.ca. "Of all the horses in the states and all the provinces in Canada, there’s only one horse of the year. A win Saturday (in the Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands Racetrack) would certainly help his (Somebeachsomewhere's) chances."
MacGrath also states in the article that he believes Shadow Play is 'The Beach's main competition in the $500,000 Breeder Crown Three-Year-Old Colt Pace (Race 9).
'The Beach' and Deweycheatumnhowe are currently the front-runners for U.S. Horse of the Year honours.
To read thechronicleherald.ca article in its entirety, click here.
Click here to view a printable program page for the Meadowlands' Breeders Crown card.
shadow play is not even in
shadow play is not even in top 3 for HOY SBSW Dewey Mr Big
US Horse Of The Year is a
US Horse Of The Year is a tough pick. If I had to decide I would go with Deweycheatunmnhowe simply by considering that he has more starts from outside post positions. He won the Kentucky Futurity Elim and Canadian Trotting from Post 10!! The Beach has started from post 7 once, post 6 once and post 5 three times and all the rest of the races were from inside post positions. It is interesting to note that the Beach has had post 1, 2 or 3, 12 of his 19 starts and Dewey 16 of his 24 starts. I don't think I have ever had a horse that has drawn that well in it's lifetime.
Sorry Beach Fans I have to
Sorry Beach Fans I have to go with this article that appeared a while back on the USTA site - pretty well sums it up - especially for US voters. SBSW may be the best that has hit the track in many a year, but Shadow Play should be the Horse of the Year by virtue of his total season and the Jug win.
'If you're not in it....You cannot win it
What are some of the factors needed to win Horse of The Year honors? Are there certain races that a three-year-old pacer needs to win to receive consideration as the best of his/her class? From past elections, it seems winning or starting in The Little Brown Jug is a big factor.
The Little Brown Jug comes at a time when voters in the U.S. Harness Writers poll begin deciding between the year's top horses, both trotters and pacers.
Competing in the Jug has helped 15 colts and one filly win the Dan Patch award as Horse of the Year.'
In reply to Sorry Beach Fans I have to by Anonymous (not verified)
Utter nonsense. The facts
Utter nonsense. The facts are the big bad shadow raced the beach four times missed the board three of those times and was a game second to somebeach in the messenger. While the beach has been beaten only once lifetime. I am certain if you asked ian moore at any level of press or radio he would concede the beach a superior standarbred compared to any past or present. With $1,083,830 from 37 lifetime starts (nothing to scoff at)it is still merely a third of the beach's money in almost double the amount of starts. Folks there is no comparison here. The fact is santanna blue chip would be a more likely comparison to shadow play.
In reply to Utter nonsense. The facts by little ralph (not verified)
Has any of you beachheads
Has any of you beachheads taken note of all the inside posts Beach has drawn this horse has been spoon fed his entire career. For instance in the confed cup he not only had inside posts it was set up so that he couldn't fail. Shadow Play had only 1 race to recuperate before the final and of course he had the outside 8 hole at Flamboro. He shouldn't have even raced as he seen no fairplay at all. The Beach has been spoon fed the entire year. Anyways, all the blather will soon be over in a few short hours.. what are you beachbums going to do when the great Beach is soundly defeated this evening. ha! ha!
In reply to Has any of you beachheads by Anonymous (not verified)
I think when you are looking
I think when you are looking at horse of the year honours you have to compare horses when they race against each other. So who should win horse of the year? Well its either Dewey or The Beach, both are great animals deserving of the honour.
In reply to Has any of you beachheads by Anonymous (not verified)
you want to be anonymous
you want to be anonymous making a statement like yours.
Nobody could get close to this horse last night or any other night.
Wake up and smell the roses.
Obvious and American fan.
Even if this wonderful horse
Even if this wonderful horse does not get the Horse of the Year award, he has won the hearts of so many of North America's fans, many of whom are outside of standardbred racing. He is well-deserving of this prestigious award as is his counterpart, Deweycheatumnhowe. Both trainers have done exemplary jobs in preparing and managing these two exciting athletes. They have entertained us magnificently for the past year. That being said, my vote would definitely have to go with "The Beach" just because of the Canadian connection and the fact that watching him for the past two years on Canadian soil, doing what he does so well has made racing worth watching again. We will miss him after this Saturday but, hopefully, we will see some of his offspring on the tracks in the next few years looking just as magnificent!