Cancer claims the legendary Somebeachsomewhere
Last week, the harness racing world was saddened with the news that pacing stallion Somebeachsomewhere had been euthanized.
As reported here two months ago, the horse many consider to have been the greatest of all-time had been diagnosed with cancer.
His passing comes at the height of his breeding career after a never-be-equaled racing resume. He had reached that enviable place as a sire that every buyer of yearlings wanted to own one. The vast majority could not afford to, but the desire was there.
But it is as a racehorse that the greatest memories remain. He won $3 million and, in two seasons of racing, lost but once.
Somebeachsomewhere developed a legion of admirers, including the late Hall of Fame horseman Jack Kopas who made an observation no one else had offered.
“He was the most perfect gained pacer I ever saw. If you run one of his videos in slow motion, you will see that in his stride both feet on the side striding hit the ground at exactly the same instant. There was no more efficient stride possible and, in my years, I never saw that in another horse.”
Brian Webster, who spent a lifetime in racing including lengthy stints administering yearling auctions, offered a slightly different take.
“When most horses are asked to go quicker in a race, their legs just move faster. But Somebeachsomewhere would extend his reach effortlessly. He would just claw for more racetrack such as he did that day winning the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs.”
And the horse’s trainer, Brent MacGrath, offers some thoughts given to him by another Hall of Famer, Ray Remmen, who raced Beach Towel, the sire of Somebeachsomewhere’s mother.
“Ray came to me one day in Beach’s threeyear-old season to wish us well in sending the horse to Hanover Shoe Farms for stud duty. He said that we would not encounter the problems he did with Beach Towel. While that horse had a great career, he was not the nicest gained horse. Ray said that Somebeachsomewhere’s gait was far superior and there was a good chance he would pass that on to his offspring, which he did.”
Genetics is a strange beast, and it remains a mystery as to what makes for a great breeding prospect. But whatever it was, Somebeachsomewhere had it in spades, and to lose him at the age of 13 is a travesty.
Shortly, his final crop of foals will be arriving and to go along with his crop of yearlings will represent the final offspring. It remains to be seen if any of his sons will carry on his legacy, but it is almost guaranteed that his daughters will impact the breed. History has shown that the great sires are always great broodmare sires.
There were six partners from Atlantic Canada who owned Somebeachsomewhere and continued to own him as a stallion. Their $40,000 purchase gave them a decade of memories in racing that will never be duplicated.
They and their horse were credits to the racing game and Canadian sport at large.
The game was better for his presence.