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

8 December 2008 - 10:51 pm

Simply amazing!! Somebeachsomewhere definitely has my vote for athlete of the year - we may never see another like him!

Lynne Davies, London ON

8 December 2008 - 10:21 pm

He is one in a life time horse, Canada's latest treasure and not only a star, but a gentleman. I had the personal pleasure of meeting the Beach up close and even got to scratch him behind the ears. This monster is gentle and well loved by everyone. He truly deserves this award.

8 December 2008 - 9:44 pm

I saw Somebeach at the Meadowlands and he is the ultimate athlete; one for the ages!

8 December 2008 - 9:23 pm

Anthony Beaton
Inverness,Nova Scotia

8 December 2008 - 9:17 pm

SomeBeachSomeWhere definately deserves this honour. He is the greatest horse I have ever seen in my lifetime. it would be a great honour for him, our country and the harness racing industry.

8 December 2008 - 9:13 pm

The best horse to ever come out of Canada period. Ontario sired, Canadian owned, Canadian trained, Canadian driven. World records in speed, money earned, sloppy tracks, a great bunch of three year olds to race against. What else would he have to do. Nothing, he did it all and then some.

Tammy Aspden
Caistor Centre, Ontario

8 December 2008 - 9:11 pm

He is a superior athlete and has made everyone in the standardred industry proud! He has made history for all to enjoy during his racing career. He's #1 and he should truly be Canada's athlete of the year. Congratulations to SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE and everyone involved in his accomplishments.

Gail M.Sooley -Mckee
W.H.Stables,Darwell,AB.

8 December 2008 - 8:47 pm

The Beach is the greatest horse to set foot on or off a race track. We thank him for a wonderful season and good luck with his new career, I am sure he will be just as great. I look forward to seeing his sons and daughters at the sale and on track.

8 December 2008 - 8:05 pm

One in a million!!!!!!!!

Karen McGrath
Saint John N.B.

8 December 2008 - 7:21 pm

Roy C. Maxwell 2616 Toronto Cres. N.W. Calgary, Alberta,T2N 3W1, Good Luck "Beach"

8 December 2008 - 7:07 pm

Here's my vote for The Beach. He's the best.
Lisa MacDonald
Clyde River, P.E.I.
COA-1H0

8 December 2008 - 7:02 pm

Never was there a more worthy athlete for this award, The Beach never had a bad race, and made some VERY good competitors look pretty average...a once in a lifetime animal that has been an honour to watch and has made the harness racing industry very, very proud.

8 December 2008 - 5:51 pm

this horse has won 13 out of 14 races that is like a goal tender in the NHL winning 81out of 82 games if he were human would you give him athelete of the year??......of course you would..........so just because hes a horse does that mean hes not an athelete????NO because he is a horse does that mean hes not human????...no horses are people too.............

SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE SHOULD BE NAMED CANADIAN ATHELETE OF THE YEAR............

WHAT A HORSE....WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT..............WHAT AN ATHELETE

8 December 2008 - 5:23 pm

No question.... the best horse Somebeachsomewhere. Go back and review the crowds that came to watch this Champion!!!!

8 December 2008 - 5:09 pm

This horse has given an awful lot of exposure to the sport of harness racing for the last two years. I beleive he deserves to be recognized as the athlete of the year due to his proven track record. It would be amazing for him, the owners,everybody that is associated with him and for the harness racing industry if he should receive this honour.

Best of luck to the Beach!

Todd Scott

8 December 2008 - 4:33 pm

Somebeachsomewhere deserves (at the very least) consideration. If race car drivers can win the Lou Marsh Award, why not one of the greatest horses to ever race?

8 December 2008 - 4:02 pm

Beach has done something that is difficult to comprehend. He is larger than life. He has caught the attention of the main stream and injected life into an industry in need of a hero. A HORSE has shown us the way by being himself. The best he can be. Can WE follow his example.

Somebeachsomewhere deserves every award and praise that can be given to him.

Thank you Brent and all the conections of this amazing animal for giving him the oppertunity to be himself. I for one enjoyed watching.

C Isenor
Halifax NS

8 December 2008 - 3:56 pm

Absolutely no doubt 100%%%%%%%%% SOMEBEACH is the horse of the year. He sure has my vote
Paula Peterson
Welland, Ontario

8 December 2008 - 3:48 pm

Somebeachsomewhere should be the Lou Marsh award winner in my opinion.

Thanks,

Colin Stewart
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

8 December 2008 - 3:46 pm

What a beautiful animal! A true athlete!
Should definitely be selected as Canada's Athlete of the Year.

Shirley Lewis
Petitcodiac, New Brunswick

8 December 2008 - 3:41 pm

In horse racing for 50 years,this horse by far the best ,a great job Brett for training him,yes u have to be lucky but a horse in very good hands helps also.

Pierre Touchette
Vaudreuil,Quebec

8 December 2008 - 3:24 pm

I think this is tremendous idea. No other athlete has done more this year for his or her sport than the Beach. He may have single-handedly help to save this sport.

david gilders
Peterborough,Ontario

8 December 2008 - 3:07 pm

It's Athlete of the year not person of the year
and who else has brought there sport to the level he has.
Attracting new fans in a time of declining numbers.

2008 THE YEAR OF THE BEACH.

8 December 2008 - 2:39 pm

From Ottawa

What an athlete. Was a joy to see race and should be remembered as Canada's best 2008 athlete

8 December 2008 - 2:39 pm

The Beach is amazing - I am glad I had the chance to see the Beach race - there will never be another like him. The Beach IS athlete of the year.

8 December 2008 - 2:31 pm

Hey the beach is and awesome athlete. He deserves to be Athlete of the Year. The Monster from the Maritimes!!!!!!! If you think, there is not much other competition. He is a Athlete and Canadian so he should be the Canadian Althlete of the Year!!!!

Brendan Curran

8 December 2008 - 2:04 pm

Congratulations " BEACH" on a great career.What a machine!

You definitely deserve to be the top choice for The Lou Marsh Trophy.

Good Luck.

8 December 2008 - 2:03 pm

Beach is indeed the greatest pacer ever ! He truly deserves the Horse of the Year award for his accomplishments!

8 December 2008 - 12:59 pm

Way to go Beach and Brent. Beach deserves Athlete of the Year.

My niece of 6 followed Beach, watching as many races as possible live and on satelite.

Lori Jennex
Guelph, Ontario

8 December 2008 - 12:18 pm

I think every horse person DREAMS about getting a horse like you!!!
Congratulations SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE you truly made alot of dreams come true...
London, Ontario

8 December 2008 - 12:01 pm

This horse alone, brought so many new and old viewers to harness racing this year. This was an awesome story all year long. What an incredible horse. Wish you the best, "SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE"

8 December 2008 - 10:21 am

Caroline Thornton
Elizabethville, Ontario

8 December 2008 - 10:06 am

The BEST .

8 December 2008 - 8:55 am

Beach is the greatest horse to set foot on the track in a long time and I hate to see him retire. But look forward to see his offspring on the track. Congrats to allthe connections on the ride of a lifetime.

Paul McDonald & Son Stables
St. John's, Newfoundland

7 December 2008 - 10:07 pm

Carole Dunbar
Richardson,Saskatchewan

7 December 2008 - 7:27 pm

Somebeachsomewhere is the best horse ever to look through a bridle. He was great to watch. Everybody will miss him, I know I will. Good luck Beach.

7 December 2008 - 6:55 pm

Kyle Saunders
Moncton,NB

Somebeachsomewhere is the Sidney Crosby of harness racing.

7 December 2008 - 5:37 pm

I really believe "The Beach" should be "Athlete of the Year" for 2008. Look at all the records this horse has set in 2007 and 2008!!!

7 December 2008 - 5:01 pm

go beach!

7 December 2008 - 3:46 pm

THE BEACH IS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. CERTAINLY HE SHOULD BE THE MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR.ALSO A GREAT JOB DONE BY BRENT McGrath and paul MacDONNELL.

7 December 2008 - 3:12 pm

By far the best athlete I have ever laid eyes on!!! Way to go Brent and Beach!!

Christine Arlidge
Paris, ON

7 December 2008 - 2:30 pm

Simply amazing athlete!

Stephanie McNeill Roselle
Brantford Ontario

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