When discussing this horse, it is nearly impossible to resist using enthusiastic descriptions such as outstanding, exceptional, breathtaking, and unbelievably speedy. The Standardbred pacer Somebeachsomewhere achieved an impressive record of winning 20 out of his 21 races during his career, setting four world records in the process.
One of his most notable achievements is completing 1 mile in just 1:46.4 minutes, the fastest time in the world. In his short racing career from 2007 to 2008, he earned a total of $3.2 million, including a remarkable $2,448,003 as a three-year-old, setting the record for the highest earnings in a season for a three-year-old pacer.
In 2017, Somebeachsomewhere's offspring earned a record-breaking $23.7 million, making him the leading standardbred sire. His winning descendants were valued at an impressive $84.6 million at the time of his passing.
Champion Pedigree
Somebeachsomewhere (2005-2018) has a great pedigree. The professionalism and intuition of the trainer made it possible to discern the horse’s innate talent and allow it to manifest itself on the racetrack.
Parents and grandparents
Somebeachsomewhere, the champion racehorse, descended from the famous runner Mach Three, who ran 1 mile in 1:49 minutes and earned $2,366,700 during his career. Mach Three's 1,287 descendants have collectively earned $103 million. The paternal grandfather, Matt's Scooter, set a world record with a mile time of 1:48.2 in 1988 and was named pacer of the year after a successful racing career in the United States and Canada. Somebeachsomewhere's dam, Where's The Beach, was a daughter of Beach Towel, a renowned racehorse with an impressive record. The beach theme in the names of Somebeachsomewhere's maternal ancestors is reflected in his own name, a.k.a. Beach, chosen by his trainer and close associates.
Distant Ancestors
The horse's lineage is widely known, spanning multiple generations back to the 20th century. A clear trend can be seen: each new offspring consistently shows improvements in their running abilities, potentially reflected in their mile speed. In the 1950s and 1960s, the average mile time was typically above 2 minutes, except for standout ancestors like Meadow Skipper and Nevele Pride's ancestor who achieved faster times.
By the late 60s, all of Beach's ancestors were running the mile in under 2 minutes, with times approaching 1:50 in the late 70s. As the years went on, milestones such as Matt's Scooter and Mach Three's ancestors breaking the 1:50 mark in 1985 and 1999, respectively, highlighted the continued improvement. Somebeachsomewhere, with his world record-setting time in 2008, exemplifies the success of standardbred breeding. However, the inherent question of the physical limits of runners remains unresolved.
Trainer Somebeachsomewhere
Trainer and owner Brent MacGrath of Schooner Stables in Nova Scotia, Canada, attended an auction in Lexington, Kentucky, USA in October 2006 with the intention of purchasing a stallion for his farm. Despite his budget of $40,000, MacGrath fell in love with a yearling colt born on May 25, 2005, and decided that if the bidding reached his limit, he would let the foal go. The bidding did indeed stop at that price, and MacGrath acquired the colt.
The colt, named Beach, was trained in Truro, Nova Scotia, and quickly began to impress with his successful race starts the following year. Rider Ron Waples compared Beach to the famous Niatross, while John Campbell remarked on Beach's exceptional qualities.
MacGrath, however, refrained from comparing Beach to any other horse and was confident in his potential. Despite receiving offers to sell Beach after his record-breaking race at Grand River Raceway, MacGrath refused, citing Beach's impressive speed, good manners, and impeccable health as reasons to hold onto him. He was optimistic that Beach would have ample opportunities to showcase his full potential.
Running career Somebeachsomewhere
Somebeachsomewhere had a remarkable 2007 season, winning all six of his starts which included prestigious races like the Battle of Waterloo, Metro Pace, Champlain Stakes, and Nasagaweya Stakes. He earned $773,296 in prize money and was recognized as Pacer of the Year in both the United States and Canada, receiving his first O'Brien Award.
The following year, in 2008, the three-year-old Beach continued his winning streak by capturing victory in 14 out of 15 starts. His only loss came at the Meadowlands Pace, where he was narrowly defeated by the Canadian horse Art Official. Some of his notable wins in 2008 include the North America Cup, Messenger, Breeders Crown, Confederation Cup, Tattersalls, and Ontario Sire Stakes.
Somebeachsomewhere's dominance on the racetrack captured the attention of the racing world, leading to his induction into the Canadian Hall of Fame in 2009 and the US Hall of Fame in 2015. He remains the only horse to have won the O'Brien Prize twice, further solidifying his status as a legendary racehorse.
Breeding career Somebeachsomewhere
After an incredible 2-year athletic career, the decision was made to retire the runner to Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania. McGrath and his family made regular visits to see him.
Somebeachsomewhere proved to be a highly successful sire, with his semen fetching $30,000 per dose on certain days of the week. McGrath reported that Beach fathered 1,073 foals, 990 of which went on to race. Of those, an impressive 869 emerged victorious, with 487 earning over $100,000 in prize money and 25 exceeding $1 million. A truly remarkable accomplishment.
Beach's final offspring, Beach Glass, was conceived through the use of his preserved semen.
Care “to the rainbow”
Somebeachsomewhere passed away in 2018 due to stomach cancer. McGrath expressed that the stallion was like family to him, and he cherished the time spent with him over the years. Paul McDonell, the rider, praised Somebeachsomewhere for his combination of strength, impeccable gait, and strong will, making him a truly special horse.