The Canadian harness racing industry received some bittersweet news earlier this month, as it was announced that the last North American foal by the immortal Somebeachsomewhere was born at Hanover Shoe Farms on July 12.
The news regarding the bay filly – who has been given the handle The Legacy Hanover – has conjured up varying emotions from those in the Standardbred industry that watched her prolific father.
Somebeachsomewhere was nothing short of lightning in a bottle during his short, yet exhilarating time on the racetrack. In true ‘Beach’ fashion, the son of the late Ontario stallion Mach Three carried his greatness into the breeding shed. He was taken too soon in January of 2018, as he was cut down by cancer at the age of 13.
The arrival of The Legacy Hanover has given many in the Canadian harness racing industry another chance to reflect on Beach and his impact on a nation of racing followers. It goes without saying that, when it came to Beach, the highs were plenty. In retrospect, the magnitude of those highs could only matched by the devastating low that his cancer, and ultimate death, created.
In life, people have a choice as to how they will view and assess situations. They can lock in on the negatives and deal with all of the emotions that come along with that, or they can seek out the positives and reap the benefits.
When it comes to The Legacy Hanover, hope springs eternal – just ask Brent MacGrath.
MacGrath, who famously trained and co-owned Beach, has taken the time to comment on The Legacy Hanover and the rest of his star’s final yearlings.
"We've been waiting for them all to come. I think the first one is exciting and the last one is certainly exciting," MacGrath has told the CBC.
In no uncertain terms, The Legacy Hanover has gotten people excited, and the popularity of Standardbred Canada’s online story of her arrival is a testament to that. Now, put yourself in MacGrath’s shoes if you can. He is not looking at just one of the final Beach foals, but more than a dozen. Hope springs eternal.
"We have 15 in total and we're looking forward to seeing them all on the track,” MacGrath has told the CBC. “It's a very exciting time because with frozen semen, you don't have as good of luck as you do with chilled semen getting the mares in foal.
"And Beach, in his typical fashion — the way he'd done everything — he hit it out of the park with the frozen semen as well. We were very happy with what we've ended up with."
To read the CBC article in its entirety, click here. A photo of The Legacy Hanover appears below.
(With files from the CBC)