Somebeachsomewhere Voted Into Hall of Fame

Colt Joins Rich N Elegant As Hypnotic Blue Chip Captures Empire

Jun 2, 2009

Horseman Keith Clark, SBSW, and Rich N Elegant have been voted to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Hypnotic Blue Chip is reaching his potential this season.

Grander words could no longer be found for the Standardbred pacing colt Somebeachsomewhere in 2008 when he finished near the top in everything he contested. The three-year-old Horse of the Year has turned four, left behind his 2008 campaign, and is just six months into his retirement this year.

He is the first Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee to be voted into the Hall less than six months after his racing campaign ended.

First Ever First Retirement Year Induction

Of the colt's early induction into the Hall, trainer and co-owner Brent MacGrath told The Horseman and Fair World" in the magazine's May 27, 2009 issue, "I think he is deserving of it too. If anybody deserved to go in six months after retirement, I think it would be him."

MacGrath reminded fans that there is no official waiting period for an inductee to the Canadian Hall, but such an early vote has never come around before Somebeach was honored.

The Beach smashed the one-season earnings mark by amassing $2,448.003 in 2008. In addition, with $3,221,299 in total career money, SBSW is the sixth all time pacing earner. SBSW owns four pacing world records.

The brilliant colt was bred by an Ohioan, Stephanie Smith-Rothag, owned by MacGrath and five others (Schooner Stables), and driven by Paul MacDonell.

Hypnotic Blue Chip Inherits Pacer Lead

In the absence of Somebeachsomewhere this season, the Art Major son Hypnotic Blue Chip is attempting to rise to the top. Owned by Deena Frost, Stable 45, and Robert Murphy, Hypnotic Blue Chip hypotized the Empire Breeders Classic crowd May 24 with a pace of 1:50.3, a track and stakes record.

Driver Tim Tetrick encouraged Hypnotic Blue Chip to the lead in the Tioga Downs classic and had no challenge after the half mile mark. Trainer Mark Harder thinks the pacer has extended to his potential from the 2008 season.

Hypnotic Blue Chip stands ninth on the current Standardbred Poll with fourteen starts, nine wins, one second, and one third. He also is eighth on the North American-based Money Leaders list with a bankroll of $185,620.

Rich N Elegant Joins SBSW in Canadian Hall

Clark, 56, captured 5,598 Standardbred wins as a driver, earning $27.8 million in purses. As a trainer, he has won 3,292 races, compiled $20 million in purse winnings, and was voted the O'Brien Award of Horsemanship in 2004. As Promised, Clark's best trainee, entered the Canadian hall in 2006.

Rich N Elegant, 19, also is stationed at Hanover Shoe Farm. Her progeny have earned over $7.5 million. She foaled two North America Cup winners, Red River Hanover (2002) and Rocknroll Hanover (2005).

Shickedanz co-bred (with H. Charles Armstrong) the great Canadian trotter Goodtimes, who collected over $2.1 million in track purses. With Armstrong and William Wellwood, Shickedanz owned the trotting mare Peach Pit, winner of $850,000.

The copyright of the article Somebeachsomewhere Voted Into Hall of Fame in Harness/Trotting Racing is owned by BarbaraAnne Helberg. Permission to republish Somebeachsomewhere Voted Into Hall of Fame in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.