I find it tough to put into perspective.
People didn’t judge Dan Patch’s success by the number of members his Facebook page had. Bloggers weren’t given carte blanche to reach the public consciousness with what they felt was least or most important about his career. The fans came, the media hailed or criticized his accomplishments, and a legacy was created.
I was very pleased to have met Charles Leerhsen, the author of Crazy Good: The True Story of Dan Patch, when he was in Toronto for the North America Cup. I was amused that according to Charles, nine of the 10 NA Cup starters were descendants of Dan Patch. The lone exception: Somebeachsomewhere.
Being too young to have been able to appreciate the runs of some of North America’s greatest racehorses, I can tell you, 2008 was a true thrill.
Going into the year, I questioned how much Somebeachsomewhere had accomplished at two, and wondered what would slow him up as a three-year-old. What I saw was a horse that refused to disappoint.
I saw arms in the air, audible applause and smiles from those who never placed a bet. I saw the best of the sport on the national news, and discussed on talk radio. I saw fans with camera phones running along the rail to catch a photo of the best athlete they will ever get within yards of.
I overheard his name talked about by non-racing fans. And I saw new racing enthusiasts created. All by a horse.
I have voiced my thoughts about the retirement of Somebeachsomewhere. I don’t blame the connections for their ultimate decision because I know the choice was strictly financial and racing is a business – like it or not.
I am slowly coming to terms with where we are: potentially the most exhilarating racehorse ever to step foot on a track is in the breeding shed despite being young, healthy and fit.
Somebeachsomewhere may not have been a descendant of Dan Patch, but he possessed the same ability to attract adoration and respect from the public when on a racetrack. Dan Patch travelled the country in a plush railroad car to put on speed shows in front of 100,000 fans. Beach built a following every time he left the paddock. And even when he suffered his lone defeat, he never disappointed his followers.
But onward we go. As a racing fan, I’m looking forward to seeing Shadow Play, Dali and other top three-year-olds move up to face the likes of Mister Big and Artistic Fella. I am thrilled that tremendous two-year-olds like Muscle Hill and Nebupanezzar are out there to carry the torch.
I will watch them and enjoy their careers. And perhaps the perfect storm of talent and charisma will once again emerge and take me on this ride again. Because it sure was fun.
Like fellow Maritimers Beach
Like fellow Maritimers Beach has gone away to find a better life and charm all the girls from places unknown, if he is like other maritimers he took a part of the maritimes with him, and he'll someday be home again living out his golden years in a Nova Scotia pasture visited by race fans that never forgot him. Until then we have other careers we can follow, on Apr. 25, 2008, a bouncing baby girl (Somehearsomewhere) was born to proud parents, Mach Three and Wheres The Beach. A full sister to Somebeachsomewhere, she will have some big shoes to fill, four of them to be exact, so we can follow the career of little sister, through the yearlings sales, stake races, until in three years, we can follow the careers of Beaches babies. Hopefully one of them will become The Maritime Monster Jr. You can go to the Hanover Shoe farms website and check out some of the Hanover mares Beach is already booked to, Rich N Elegant, dam of RockNRoll Hanover, and Hattie, dam of Holborn Hanover, co-holder of Beaches 1:46.4 world record.