Somebeachsomewhere has been the talk of the standardbred industry since he stepped on the track, and next week fans of the champion Mach Three colt will have the ability to bid on his halter.
The colt's co-owning trainer, Brent MacGrath, has donated the much sought after item to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame's upcoming silent auction. The silent auction will coincide with the 2008 induction ceremony, taking place Thursday, August 28 at the Mississauga Convention Centre.
This year's ceremony will celebrate newest standardbred inductees Peaceful Way, Real Desire, Cliff Chapman Jr. and Pierre Levesque along with thoroughbred counterparts Smart Strike, Wilderness Song, Louis Cauz and Robert Tiller.
Twenty-seven items are currently displayed on the silent auction item list. Besides Somebeachsomewhere's halter, some of the other attractive items include:
- Ekati Diamond -- 1.03 carat princess cut diamond (unset) from the Ekati diamond mine in Canada's Northwest Territories (donated by Mr. Charles Fipke)
- Diamond and Pink Opal Earrings valued at $5,000 (donated by Hazel Tomlinson)
- Use of the Owner's Box for up to 60 people at the Rogers Centre for a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays for Friday, September 5 (donated by Gary Murphy of Rogers Media)
- Hockey Weekend -- Package includes two airline tickets to Montreal the Friday of the weekend of your choice, private limo service to and from the hotel, 2 nights hotel accommodations for 2 at the luxurious 'Marriott Chateau Champlain' hotel in downtown Montreal, Dinner for 2 at the "La Mis au Jeux" restaurant, 2 reserved seats for the game of your choice (donated by Majestic Thoroughbred Investments)
- Dinner & a Leafs Game -- Enjoy dinner at the Turf Lounge followed by a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game [section 102, Row 28, Seats 17 & 18] (donated by Woodbine Entertainment Group)
- And much more.
Jim Bannon will once again be Master of Ceremonies for the event, while noted Canadian actor Nicholas Campbell, the well known horse racing enthusiast of Da Vinci's Inquest fame, will be special guest speaker.
The evening entails a reception and silent auction commencing at 5:30 p.m. and ceremonial dinner at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale and cost $150 per person or $1,500 for a table sponsorship. All proceeds will benefit the Hall of Fame.
To order tickets or for more information, please visit canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com.