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