Somebeach Gets Harness Horse of the Year
Tim Tetrick Garners Second Straight Top Driver Honors
Mar 3, 2009
The 2008 ceremonies were a mild surprise in that SBSW grabbed the sport's top annual prize as a pacer, while Tim Tetrick won as the second-winningest driver behind the 961 first place finishes driven by Tony Morgan. SBSW beat out superb trotter Deweycheatumnhowe for Horse of the Year. Trotters are generally favored over pacers when yearly awards come due. Tetrick had more wins in 2007 -- 1,189 -- but he drove to a higher purse earnings total this season.
Tetrick Missed $20 Million
Tetrick endured hip replacement surgery in December, shortening his season which surely would have seen him break the $20 million mark in earnings. He chaulked up $19,752,066 in 2008 winnings.
The U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) gave Tetrick the nod for best driver for the second straight season. Surpassing the $18 million mark in harness racing purses had never been accomplished before Tetrick turned the trick in 2007; he repeated the feat in 2008.
His earnings title put him on a level with Thoroughbred racing jockeys, as he was second in 2008 on the short driver/jockey list of those who bankrolled over $19 million. Thoroughbred rider Garrett Gomez topped the list with $23.3 million in racing earnings.
2008 Battle of Titans -- SBSW and Dewey
SBSW and Dewey battled all of 2008 for top harness racing honors, and both missed opportunities to win key races as they each scored legend-like three-year-old seasons. SBSW skipped The Little Brown Jug, while Dewey's late-season illness with a throat abscess probably prevented his winning last November's three-year-old Breeders Crown championship.
Somebeachsomewhere has been retired to Hanover Shoe Farms for stud duty. SBSW set a new single-season money mark, earning $2,448,003 in 2008. He won 20 of 21 career starts.
Other 2008 Harness Champions:
- Pacer of the Year -- SBSW; Owner - Schooner Stables; Trainer - Brent MacGrath
- Trotter of the Year -- Dewey; Ray Schnittker, Ted Gewertz; Ray Schnittker
- 2YO Colt Trotter -- Muscle Hill; Jerry Silva & TLP Stable; Greg Peck
- 2YO Filly Trotter -- Honorable Daughter; Paolo Rosaneli & John Siena; Larry & Ray Remmen
- 2YO Colt Pacer -- Magic In Art; Major In Art Stable; Justin Lebo
- 2YO Filly Pacer -- Fox Valley Topaz; Engel Stable & Rucker Stable; Ken Rucker
- 3YO Colt Trotter -- Dewey
- 3YO Filly Trotter -- Lantern Kronos; Falkbolagen AB; Jimmy Takter
- 3YO Colt Pacer -- SBSW
- 3YO Filly Pacer -- Tug River Princess; Let It Ride Stables, Robert Cooper; Ross Croghan
- Older Male Trotter -- Enough Talk; Peter Kleinhans Racing & Jerry Silva; Peter Kleinhans
- Older Mare Trotter -- Buck I St. Pat; Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold; MickeyBurke Stable
- Older Male Pacer -- Mister Big; Joe Muscara; Virgil Morgan Jr.
- Older Mare Pacer -- My Little Dragon; Adam Victor & Son Stable; Noel Daley & Mike Vanderkemp
Most Drives in 2008 -- Over 4,000
Tetrick was third on the list of those with the most harness racing drives in 2008. He answered the bell 4,048 times. Tony Morgan was first with 4,526 starts, and Aaron Merriman lined up in 4,091 races.
