Phenomenal Canadian pacer-turned-sire Somebeachsomewhere has died.
North American media reported yesterday that the horse had died aged 13 of cancer.
The horse, who was a resident sire across the border at Hanover Shoe farms in Pennsylvania, had recently undergone chemotherapy after having a cancerous mass removed from his intestines last year.
The horse’s health declined rapidly since his initial diagnosis and he was euthanased yesterday at a veterinary centre in New Jersey.
Somebeachsomewhere captured the hearts of harness racing fans during his brilliant race career in which he broke eight world records.
He won all his six starts as a 2yr-old before embarking on an all-conquering 3yr-old season.
Somebeachsomewhere showed speed and stamina rarely seen before on North American racetracks, winning 14 of 15 starts.
The pacer equalled the fastest ever mile (1609m) time paced by a standardbred when running 1.46.4 at the Red Mile track in Kentucky in 2008.
The mark still stands as the fastest mile ever paced by a 3yr-old.
In Canada the horse’s deeds were so highly regarded he was considered for the Lou Marsh Award — an award honouring the nation’s athlete of the year.
As a 4yr-old, Somebeachsomewhere was retired to embark on a stud career after banking US$3,221,299. He went on to become a North American siring phenomenon with his progeny earning US$84.62million ($NZ116.34million] in career earnings, to date.
Somebeachsomewhere also found good success in Australasia where he was available to breeders largely through the use of frozen semen.
In New Zealand, the sire has produced 40 winners who have amassed $1.11million in winnings.
Somebeachsomewhere could not replicate his North American success in New Zealand, but achieved some of his best results when crossed with Otago bloodlines.
Bonnie Joan, bred at Tuapeka Lodge near Lawrence, is the sire’s best performer in New Zealand with nine wins and $160,694 in stakes.
West Otago’s Arden Lodge was a big supporter of the stallion and bred Someardensome-
where, Maritime Arden and South Beach Arden.
Proprietor John Stiven had twice visited the horse at Hanover Shoe farms and was wowed by his physical presence.
The stallion’s death would leave a massive hole in the New Zealand breeding industry, as well as worldwide, he said.
The death of Somebeachsomewhere comes less than a year after his own sire Mach Three - also a leading sire - was euthanised.
The demise of the father and son sires will only help star sire Bettor’s Delight continue his domination of the New Zealand siring ranks.
