Somebeachsomewhere set an earnings record, equaled the fastest time for a mile and won 14 of 15 races. On Wednesday night at harness racing’s Night of Champions awards dinner, the star pacer became the first Canadian-sired standardbred to be named U.S. Horse of the Year
.
Somebeachsomewhere received 121 of the 158 votes in balloting by the U.S. Harness Writers Association, easily beating top trotter Deweycheatumnhowe, who had 35 votes. Mister Big and Honorable Daughter each received one vote.
"For a horseman from Canada to win this award is just unbelievable," co-owner/trainer Brent MacGrath told Trot Insider.
In addition, Somebeachsomewhere picked up Dan Patch Awards for Pacer of the Year and Three-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year.
Deweycheatumnhowe, runner-up in Horse of the Year balloting for the second year in a row, won Trotter of the Year and top three-year-old colt trotter.
In 2008, Somebeachsomewhere set a single-season earnings record with $2.44 million, including victories in the North America Cup, the Breeders Crown, the Messenger Stakes, and the Confederation Cup. His lone loss was by a neck to Art Official in the Meadowlands Pace. He equaled the mile record of 1:46.4 at Lexington’s Red Mile in September.
“In our wildest dreams we never thought we would have a horse in the running. How can you imagine that?” co-owner and trainer Brent MacGrath said. “But he never went a bad race. Really, it’s tough to pick his best race. I thought they were all pretty special.”
Deweycheatumnhowe, trained and driven by Ray Schnittker, became only the second trotter to reach $2 million in a single year, earning $2.2 million in 2008. The colt won 12 of 15 races, including the Hambletonian, Canadian Trotting Classic and the Kentucky Futurity.
Other division winners announced in December were Muscle Hill (two-year-old colt trotter); Major In Art (two-year-old colt pacer); Honorable Daughter (two-year-old filly trotter); Fox Valley Topaz (two-year-old filly pacer); Lantern Kronos (three-year-old filly trotter); Tug River Princess (three-year-old filly pacer); Enough Talk (older male trotter); Buck I St Pat (older female trotter), Mister Big (older male pacer); and My Little Dragon (older female pacer).
(Associated Press)
Congras to the Beach and all
Congras to the Beach and all associated with --
His only losing effort might have been the monster mile of all time
sub 150s like nothing - Auckland Reactor would be seeing fumes -
SBSW is a living legend!!!!!
Somewhere up there, Cam
Somewhere up there, Cam Fella is smiling!
Way to go Beach! You were
Way to go Beach! You were awesome, thanks for the memories!
i must say, looking back at
i must say, looking back at the increitable yearsss the beach has had in his sport and our sport thats standardbred racing its all about the horse if somebody else was to bring this horse to the races and they knew they had a good one they would of done the same thing or almost the samething i love the connections but the horse would of done the same job hes that kind of a horse. and what else can you say about the beach.
I was probably very
I was probably very surprised that Beach won horse of the year in the U S A.Somebeachsomewhere is probably the speediest most consistent and favourite horse ive ever seen. Kudos to Brent MacGrath and Paul MacDonell for such a great 2 years of racing as well. My personal favourite race for Beach was as a 2 year old at Grand River Raceway. Thank you for everything you did on the racetrack Beach and continued success as a stud as well.
A true champion going out
A true champion going out with the highest honors, how appropriate .congratulations to, Brent, Rhonda, josh and members of the schooner stables, it couldn’t have happened for classier group of people
dave
They got it right!!
They got it right!!
Not to take anything away
Not to take anything away from another great horse, Deweycheatumnhowe, but a huge congratulations to Somebeachsomewhere and his connections for the best entertainment in harness racing over the past two years and many years to come. Both horses were a thrill to watch along with several other talents. The Beach was "Just The Best" and has been awarded as such both in his home country and in the U.S.A. What could be better? He, Brent et al deserve every bit of recognition that they get!
As a typical nickle and dime
As a typical nickle and dime bettor, I'm probably down for the year. It was worth losing money to be in the midst of greatest twice. SBSW earned his award and his connections should thank him for it.
Congrats to SBSW and his
Congrats to SBSW and his connections and to all it's fans.
I can't believe that some people actually thought Dewey should have been HOY.
Most of all I want to say what a great job Brent and partners did with scheduling Beaches races and keeping him sound, fit and happy.
deciding not to send him to the Jug probably played a huge part in that.
As much as I would have loved to see him there it was best for the big guy.
In the long run we got to see more of him being at his best.
thanks again,
JT
Dear Brent and partners and
Dear Brent and partners and Paul:
You can't believe how happy I was to see where The Beach won US Horse of the Year. There isn't a horse more deserving of this award and all the awards he has won.
Congrats to you and all the connections of this wonderful animal. The thrills he gave everyone who watched him race and especially the thrill I got when I was up close and personal with this amazing animal.
A fitting end to a racing
A fitting end to a racing career that was both mighty and crowd pleasing. To win Horse of The Year in the United States puts an exclamation mark behind a Canadian bred, owned , trained and driven champion that was truly dominant in ever single race he was in. The open lengths win for HOY stamps "The Beach" as one of the all time greats.We look forward to his exploits as a stallion matching or exceeding his on track performance. Congratulations to Brent and all of the connections on a job well done.
CONGRATULATIONS to all the
CONGRATULATIONS to all the SBSW connections we always knew you were a world champion what a great horse for the sport........