Oak Grove, KY — The United States Harness Driving Club feature, honoring Steele Magnolia Sanctuary, had “Fourth of July” toteboard fireworks on Monday (April 28) as amateur driver Roy Marohn piloted the 11-year-old gelding Somebeachsomeday to a 33-1 upset victory in 1:55.4 over a lightning fast Oak Grove track.
Marohn, closing in on age 70, won his first of 193 lifetime wins almost a half century ago and got his first success in nearly two years with the son of Somebeachsomewhere, who earned his first win of the year in 14 starts, after having arrived from Ontario just days earlier.
Owned by trainer David Brooks along with Adam Brooks, the winner scored by three-parts of a length over the fastest closing Game Of Change, handled by Zyler Maxwell, with the favorite Stun Gun next for Peter Kleinhans, after suffering interference early on.
Marohn was ecstatic with his horse’s performance: “He’d been racing up in Canada on a smaller track so I decided to try a more aggressive route.
“Yes, it worked out but the highlight for me was in the winner’s circle with the Steele Magnolia (Sanctuary) being honored for their incredible work.”
Indeed, the Sanctuary is a healing one for both horses and humans while living up to their “motto:” Saving one horse won’t change the world, but it will change the world for one horse.
The Steele Magnolia Sanctuary is a registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that provides a permanent refuse for abandoned, abused and neglected horses. In turn, these horses have become essential for healing children of all ages — 2 to 92 — through therapeutic equine assisted activities.
Steele Magnolia’s Julie Scarborough was at Oak Grove for the winner’s circle presentation and gave a prime example of their work saying, “One of our equine residents is ‘Libby.’ We rescued her momma, who was on her way to slaughter, and, eventually, she had her beautiful foal, Libby.
“Yet another, ‘Prince Charming,’ came to us in extremely emaciated condition and was just one of 30 horses that were rescued due to hoarding.
“There are many, many more instances and we are determined to do as much as we can to save horses and make lives better as they work their equine magic on boys, girls, men and women of all ages.”
For more information about Steele Magnolia Sanctuary, tune in to www.steelemagnoliasanctuary.com.