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

4 December 2008 - 4:46 pm

Beach all the way...1:46:4....what a machine

4 December 2008 - 4:35 pm

The "Beach" has earned my vote as athlete of the year.
His accomplishments as a 3 yr old have been record breaking

4 December 2008 - 4:28 pm

Bobby Laffin

Dartmouth , Nova Scotia

No question. should be Canada's Athlete of the Year

4 December 2008 - 4:26 pm

Go Beach Go!
Good Luck!!

Albina Montini
Acton, ON

Lesley Hunter
4 December 2008 - 4:25 pm

Lesley Hunter

It's been a pleasure to see The Beach all year and does deserve the honor.

Marmora, Ontario

4 December 2008 - 4:24 pm

how can the readers even consider any other individual for this award.There has been no other athlete dominate their sport as much as Beach has dominated the racing game in 2 years. My congratulations to Brent, Gary, Stu, Jamie, Pam and Reg for what they must feel like a ride of a life time. Craig Fraser Truro NS

4 December 2008 - 4:17 pm

the best thing that has happened to the sport in a generation perhaps ever; congratulations to all the connections.

4 December 2008 - 4:12 pm

You are truly a champion!

Orianna Scheck
Calgary, AB

4 December 2008 - 4:11 pm

Dean Vollmershausen
Woodstock Ontario

This is a no brainer but the Beach is Male Athlete of the Year, no one has done as well as he and the team have done this year

4 December 2008 - 3:41 pm

This horse truly deserves National and International recognition for his outstanding career.

4 December 2008 - 3:30 pm

If this horse had any kind of competition,there is no doubt in my mind people would have seen a 46 flat at Lexington.Everything he has accomplished has been on his own.
No one will ever know how good he could have been.The mile he ran in his loss was nothing short of amazing.He has my vote.

4 December 2008 - 3:25 pm

Somebeachsomewhere... Definately for Atlete of the Year... & amazing Animal!

4 December 2008 - 2:48 pm

Every time the Beach raced you found yourself wondering just how much better he could get. But he did get better, race after race. I can't think of a Canadian athlete this year who can even come close to his record.

4 December 2008 - 2:48 pm

IT MAKE ME SOOOOO PROUD TO HAVE THE GREATEST HORSE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR IN MY AREA. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BEACH GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

4 December 2008 - 2:45 pm

Somebeachsomewhere is certainly the Athlete of the year in Canada. He has my vote.
Hazel Brenton, Truro, Nova Scotia

4 December 2008 - 2:32 pm

If a race car driver (Jacques Villenuve) can be athlete of the year, then so can Somebeachsome.

4 December 2008 - 2:03 pm

As the Director of Publicity at The Red Mile where the world record video takes place, this should be a no-brainer. This horse is beyond special and we may never see the likes again in the history of the sport. I truly believe he is that good. Here is a personal account that I wrote shortly after the WR mile at The Red Mile:

http://www.theredmile.com/index.cfm?a=472

4 December 2008 - 1:52 pm

Fantastic idea! SBSW has given the entire industry across the country a reason to get excited and re-energized about harness racing. Now it's time for the industry to show our support for Beach as the 2008 Lou Marsh Trophy recipient!

4 December 2008 - 1:32 pm

Singlehandedly reviving harness-racing spirit in the maritimes and all of canada.

4 December 2008 - 12:48 pm

This is a no-brainer--vote THE BEACH in he's the BEST IN 2008 - he is one that a vast majority will support and I am sure "" SHY ANN "" will be sending her best wishes from the grave--looking forward to another BEACH in the not to distant future--stay tuned.

Blaine Gregan,
Moncton,NB.,
CANADA

4 December 2008 - 12:24 pm

Alexandra Douglas, London Ontario.

Somebeachsomewhere for athlete of the year!

4 December 2008 - 11:28 am

Best ever?? I say YES!!

Herb Z

St.Thomas, ont

4 December 2008 - 10:58 am

I just watched the world record mile again. I didn't see a prompter - he gets my vote.

4 December 2008 - 10:22 am

SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE is an incredibly talented and courageous race horse.
He and his connections are terrific for the harness racing sport!
SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE deserves this honor !!!

4 December 2008 - 8:24 am

he has my vote,he did it all and never had a contract or problem negotiating anything,a true athlete

4 December 2008 - 8:18 am

Putting aside his accomplishments on the track, which are phenomenal, SBSW has generated interest in harness racing not only amongst the harness racing community but amongst people who have never been to the track. Crowds have flocked to see him race and the buzz is amazing. His accomplishments - and mystique - have elevated the sport at a time where it needed a desperate shot in the arm.

4 December 2008 - 6:33 am

Only choice for Athlete of the year. Just wish all those rivels were racing next year, including, SBSW.

4 December 2008 - 3:01 am

Somebeachsomewhere is Canada's athlete of year! Congratulations go out to the connections. Thanks for all the wonderful memories.

Vincent Sgambelluri
Etobicoke, Ontario

4 December 2008 - 2:50 am

This is one athlete who loves what he does, he has no clue and could care less how much his pay cheque is!

4 December 2008 - 2:37 am

Somebeachsomewhere for the Lou Marsh Award!!! Absolute no brainer no other athlete has the talent level of the Beach.

4 December 2008 - 1:26 am

A real champion - congratulations to 'his' people on a developing a great athlete, and sharing him with us.

3 December 2008 - 11:08 pm

Best harness horse ever.

Allan MacInnis,
Halifax, NS

3 December 2008 - 10:38 pm

Congrats Brent, Paul and team on an incredible year!

Go Beach!

Mike Smith
Newcastle, Ontario

3 December 2008 - 10:36 pm

The greatest standardbred since Niatross and he definatly deserves to be Canadian athlete of the year. His accomplishments speak for themselves.

3 December 2008 - 8:48 pm

Here is an athlete who never renegotiated his contract,brooded about playing time, competed at every asking,and was an ambassador for his sport. To watch The Beach pace was to watch the Babe hit or experience the great Ali box. If the main stream media choses to not recognize this great athlete it will be their loss.

3 December 2008 - 8:44 pm

I think without a doubt he should be named athlete of the year. I don't feel there is anything wrong with having an animal take this honor. M.Mcclintock,St Thomas Ont.

3 December 2008 - 8:35 pm

Beach definitely deserves to be "Athlete of the Year" - Beach is a true champion and a true gentleman. If there is an award in harness racing that is comparable to the Lady Byng in hockey, Beach wins hands down. Love You Beach.

Janice Terry,
Truro, NS

3 December 2008 - 8:02 pm

Horse of a lifetime. He definatly has my vote. He is the first standardbred horse in a long time that has gotten my attention. As a spectator, he looks to have been a real boost to the industry. People that are not into harness racing are talking about him. He is the best ever!

3 December 2008 - 7:43 pm

There is no other Canadian more deserving of this award.And yes I consider him a Canadian. St. Thomas Ontario

3 December 2008 - 7:32 pm

Go Beach Go. Athlete of the year is in your pocket. You make being a Canadian so proud
to know a horse of your quality belongs to Canada.

3 December 2008 - 7:30 pm

This is a horse of another colour. There is no doubt that he not only has made the Maritimes proud but all of Canada proud. This is a no brainer to be nominated athlete of the year.

3 December 2008 - 7:28 pm

weve waited a long time since cam fella,and now we were blessed to witness something that doesnt come around too often.This guy is a true champion and the funny thing is that even he knows it also.I thought for sure id never see another horse like cam fella and now im wondering if ill EVER see another horse like the beach,maybe but it wont be in my lifetime.Thanks for the ride and make sure the horse is trated like ROYALTY for what hes given us and the sport of harness racing

3 December 2008 - 7:22 pm

Laura Wheeler
Sainte-Brigide-dIberville, QC

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