Harness Racing 2008; Dream Year for Maritimes Canada Standardbred Racing Fans

The exploits of Somebeachsomewhere and Shadow Play, the thrilling Gold Cup and saucer, plus the many human achievements in the sport by Maritimers made 2008 the most exciting year ever, and a racing season we shall never expect to see again in our lifetimes.

For the North American Harness Racing industry as a whole, it was a year of more positives than negatives. Beach and Dewey each achieved a well-earned star status, while Muscle Hill showed early speed that just got stronger as the season wore on. The 3 year old pacing crop had four $1 million plus winners (Somebeachsomewhere, Art Official, Shadow Play, Badlands Hanover) plus Dali and Santanna Blue Chip.

Here are some USA and Canadian harness racing news stories from 2008:

Jim Whelan stance in OHHA / WEG contract dispute defended - Dec 29, 2008


Dali wins Matron Stakes in World Record 1.48.2 - Dec 15, 2008


Southwind Farm buys interest in Muscle Hill - Dec 6, 2008


Online Tribute: Somebeachsomewhere retires to stud as richest, fastest 3 year old pacer EVER - Nov 30, 2008


Muscle Hill trots to world record victory in Breeders Crown Final - Nov 30, 2008


Somebeachsomewhere edges Shadow Play to win Breeders Crown in 1.48.3 - Nov 29, 2008


Somebeachsomewhere SENSATIONAL in OSS Super Final - Nov 16, 2008


Shadow Play races 2009 for new partnership - Nov 16, 2008


Enough Talk has a cool pedigree; World-record trotter from outcross branch of main sire line - Oct 12, 2008


Shadow Play edges Badlands Nitro to win Windy City Pace - Oct 11, 2008


Top Trotting Sires of 2008, Emerging Star Stallions - Oct 5, 2008


Deweycheatumnhowe wins thrilling 3rd heat Final of Kentucky Futurity - Oct 4, 2008


Somebeachsomewhere wins Bluegrass, ties all-age world-record with 1:46.4! - Sep 27, 2008


Standardbred Horse Books; Gifts for Harness Racing Fans - Sep 20, 2008


Western Hanover Line 1st and 2nd in Jug; PEI's Shadow Play wins on leather shoe in final - Sep 2008


Dewey wins Canadan Trotting Classic; Beach to race at Woodbine!!! - Sep 13, 2008


Volomite sire line ascending with Somebeachsomewhere, Garland Lobell sires - Aug 30, 2008


SomeBeachSomewhere online videos and fan website links - Aug 21, 2008


Gold Cup & Saucer To Pownal Bay Matt - Aug 17, 2008


SomeBeachSomewhere - World-Record 1.49.2 at Flamboro Downs on a half-mile track!!! - Aug 14, 2008


Research Standardbred Harness Horse Boodlines - No Registration required - Jul 20, 2008


Somebeachsomewhere sets world record for 3 year olds of 1.47; Places to Art Official! - Jul 19, 2008




Somebeachsomewhere Online Race Videos

Beach as a 2 year old:

Somebeachsomewhere race video, 2007 Metro Pace Final Win


Beach as a 3 year old:

Website with Video of Somebeachsomewhere 2008 Breeders Crown Win


Watch Somebeachsomewhere's 1.46.4 world record at The Red Mile online video


2008 Meadowlands Pace Final Art Official noses out Somebeachsomewhere in world record

Dali wins Matron Stakes in World Record 1.48.2!!!

Matts Scooter grandkids Beach, Shadow and Dali Shine in '09

Congrats to Dali and all his connections on a great finish to a solid season. The ascending 3 year old colt broke the track record, the Matron Stakes record and tied the world record for a 3 year old pacer on a 5/8 mile track, set by Shadow Play in the Adios earlier this year.

HN Horse Driver Win Place Show
6 Dali Ron Pierce 3.60 2.40 2.20
2 Blueridge Western Dave Palone 2.80 2.10
4 Lisfinny David Miller 2.20



Time: 1:48.2

Finish Order: Dali, Blueridge Western, Lisfinny, Santanna Blue Chip, Proper Respect, Jo Pa`s Wild Card, First Rate, Mystery Chase


With this convincing victory Dali lowered his lifetime mark by a second and set himself up nicely for stud duties, whether it be in 2009 or 2010.

Read the USTA article on Dali winning the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs

Once again it proves to be Matts Scooter's year. Somebeachsomewhere is by his son Mach Three. Shadow Play is out of Matts Filly, a daughter of Matts Scooter and Breezes Girl, by Warm Breeze.

Dali, a son of Real Desire out of the Matts Scooter daughter Armbro Tea, is the star of the Holyday Season and makes grandad Matts proud yet again. Considering the robust and improving form Dali showed in the elimination and final, had Somebeachsomewhere been there it's likely there would have been an incredible stretch duel between Beach and Dali, with the winner breaking the world record. Even as it is, Dali's victory over a sharp Blueridge Western and a strong Lisfinny is a completely satisfying way for a Canadian stantardbred racing fan to end the harness horse stakes racing season. For someone with PEI (dad) and NB (mom) heritage, 2009 will always be remembered as the Dream Season. Dali is some beautiful icing on the cake for all his fans in Ontario, and across Canada, the USA and around the world.

Here's thanks to all involved in harness racing in 2008, and may you have an inspiring, fun, adventurous and rewarding 2009!!!

Dali lowers mark to 1.49.2 in Matron elim; Beach scratched, off to stud

Dali lowered his mark by almost a full second with his 1.49.2 victory in the first Matron Stakes elimination at Dover Downs this evening. The colt has had some tough racing luck this year, not the least of which is being part of the first crop of three year old pacers to sport 4 one-season millionaires: Somebeachsomewhere, Art Official, Shadow Play, and Badlands Nitro. A son of Real Artist out of the Matts Scooter mare Armbro Tea, Dali is the pride of horse owner Aaron Waxman of Ontario.

First Rate led through early fractions of 26.1 and 54.2, but Dali was first over and was only a nose behind at the 3/4 in 1.21.4. From there Dali took command and paced home in 27.3 for his new lifetime mark of 1.49.2. Lisfunny placed, Santanna Blue Chip took third and First Rate held on for fourth.

In the second elimination race, Somebeachsomewhere was scratched due to a virus (he'll now head to Hanover Shoe Farms to prepare for his mare book), so Blueridge Western went to post as the prohibitive favorite and did not disappoint, winning in a relaxed 1.51.1, with Proper Respect in second, Jo Pa's Wild Card third, and Mystery Chase fourth.

Tom's Toy won the $100,000 final of the Delaware Breeders Stakes for 2 year Old Fillies in 1.54.4

Full results from Delaware Breeders and Matron Stakes Races at Dover Downs

NOTE for Harness Horse Breeders: Four of the big names in this year's sensational 3 year old pacing crop are grandsons of Matts Scooter. Somebeachsomewhere is by Matts' son Mach Three, while Shadow Play, Santanna Blue Chip and Dali are all out of Matts Scooter mares.

Somebeachsomewhere draws post 4 for Matron Stakes elimination at Dover Downs Monday

Here are the two elimination fields for Monday December 8th, 2008 Matron Stakes at Dover Downs in Delaware.


Race 10


PP Horse Med 2008 Year to Date Driver Trainer ML Base
Sts W P S Time Earnings Stable Odds Claim

1 Santanna Blue Chip L 14 2 4 4 Q1:53.1M $666502 Jody Jamieson Carl Jamieson

2 Trade Editor 21 5 1 4 1:51.1S $143354 Andy Miller Julie Miller

3 Lisfinny 24 5 3 3 1:50.1F $198543 David Miller Robert Mc Intosh

4 Dali 17 2 2 4 1:50.1F $453941 Ron Pierce Duane Marfisi

5 First Rate 21 4 3 3 1:49.0Z $91862 Tim Curtin Samuel Beegle

6 Dina`s Gamble 9 2 4 1 1:53.3F $56675 Brandon Givens Wayne Givens



Somebeachsomewhere's in the Race 12 elimination for the Matron Stakes; Beach drew post four, and Blueridge Western looks like his main competition, leaving from the 3 hole. Other challengers include Mystery Chase, a winner of over $380,000, and Proper Respect with 9 wins and over 150k on the card.

Race 12


1 Jo Pa`s Wild Card L 21 4 7 2 1:51.3F $81056 Corey Callahan Jim Campbell




2 Dragon King L 21 6 1 4 1:51.2F $141444 David Miller Roy Williams




3 Blueridge Western L 21 3 9 2 1:50.1M $513716 Dave Palone Kevin Mc Dermott




4 Somebeachsomewhere 15 14 1 0 1:46.4M $2448003 Paul Mac Donell Brent Mac Grath




5 Proper Respect L 22 9 5 3 1:49.3M $153996 Ron Pierce Carlo Poliseno




6 Mystery Chase L 22 5 4 4 1:49.2M $382246 Donnie Russell Donnie Russell

Shadow Play to get Hero’s Welcome Saturday at Charlottetown Driving Park

Shadow Play, a son of The Panderosa out of Matts Filly by Matts Scooter, is scheduled to arrive back home in P.E.I. this week. He'll get the winter off before returning to racing in 2009 to face Art Official and all the older horses. Shadow Play is set to stand at stud for Blue Chip Farms in 2010, and Maritimes harness racing fans will be cheering him on big time next year.

The brilliant colt is trained by Dr. Ian Moore of Winsloe, and owned by PEI's Doc Moore, Quebec's Serge Savard and the RG Group (Ron and Gail McLellan) of New Brunswick. Shadow Play is expected to stand for Blue Chip in the USA and in either Australia or New Zealand. Even racing there isn't out of the question.

"I would love to come for a visit ‘Down Under. Your industry is very progressive and a lot of your horses compete well up here. It's something I have always wanted to do," said PEI's Moore.

Regarding his highly anticipated return to Prince Edward island, his trainer was looking forward to the appreciation.

"We will be taking him home on Tuesday in his newly bought trailer and the Charlottetown Driving Park is holding a ‘Shadow Play day' on Saturday afternoon. We are pitching in with some purse money and giveaways. It should be a great day," Dr Moore said.












Full story on Shadow Play's return to Charlottetown PEI on HarnessLink.com

Charlottetown Driving Park official website

Shadow Play to race in 2009, stand at Blue Chip Farms in 2010 - The Guardian

Beach to Race in Matron Stakes at Dover!!!

That McGrath's quite a kidder. "I feel badly that I didn't say anything before now, but if he'd shown the least little bit of tiredness tonight, it would have been his last race," the trainer said. "But we decided to show him off a little bit more."

I've loved everything about the way Somebeachsomewhere's career has been handled, and this latest surprise is a truly unexpected dessert. The eliminations if necessary will be a week from tonight on Monday, December 8th, with the Matron Stakes Final going to post December 15, 2008.

Congatulations on an amazing season that just keeps rolling on to Brent McGrath, Jean-Louis Arsenault, Paul Macdonnell, co-owners James Bagnell, Pamela Dean, Reg Pettipas, Garry Pye, Stuart Rath and breeder Stephanie Smith-Rothaug.