Beach Boy

I'm not much of a harness racing maven, but there is a great story about a horse competing today in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace that caught my eye. The horse's name is Somebeachsomewhere and he is 10 for 10! He races out of a one horse stable in Truro, Nova Scotia and he is, according to the New York Times, "on his way to being one of the best horses ever."

The horse, owned by one Brent MacGrath, has amassed earnings of $1.6 million, holds the record for the fastest race by a 2 year old pacer and won the $1.5 million North America Cup at Ontario's Mohawk Raceway. What is remarkable is his rags to riches story, which parallels that of his owner/trainer.

MacGrath was once a full-time horse trainer who took a job as a car salesman back in 1987, to make ends meet. He continued to work part-time as a trainer but, as is so often the case with those working their way up, he ended up training "bargain" horses that never amounted to much.

He decided he wanted to try his hand at training horses of a better caliber so he put together a small partnership and went shopping with a modest budget. It was at the 2006 Selected Sale in Lexington that he discovered his horse by "walking through the barns, popping my head into stalls and looking for a good individual." He bought Somebeachsomewhere for $40,000. He is one of the six owners as well as the trainer of the son of Mach Three (who won the 2002 Meadowlands Pace) and Where's the Beach.

"It was his overall presence that impressed me," says MacGrath. "Breeding is very important, but when you have a budget like I do, you have to give up something. I can't afford a horse that is a blueblood and has perfect conformation."

As a two year old, Somebeachsomewhere competed at the major tracks on the Ontario circuit and was named the juvenile pacer in both Canada and the United States. He has become a local celebrity in his hometown of Truro, Nova Scotia (pop. 12,000), putting the tiny town on the map.

This will likely be Somebeachsomewhere's last race especially if he wins it, as expected, in record time. MacGrath plans to retire the horse to stud and return to the car dealership, from which he has taken a leave of absence.

You have to cheer for the accomplished pair, especially since MacGrath, who admits he would like to set a world record, seems to have his priorities in order. "I would like to set a world record with him, an all-age world record...because I think he can do it," he says. "I won't put a lot of pressure on myself or on him. But if you put the horse first, things will usually work out."

Sounds like a winner to me.