Beach Treat repeats in Woodard Memorial Classic

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Aug. 20, 2020) – Two words can describe Beach Treat – he’s back! Indiana’s 2019 Quarter Horse of the Year turned in a dominant performance to repeat in the 12th running of the $94,600 Bob Woodard Memorial Classic Thursday, Aug. 20 at Indiana Grand.

After winning his trial and ranked third on the list of qualifiers by time, Beach Treat moved into the Woodard Memorial Classic as the early morning line favorite. Starting from post three with Oscar Macias aboard, the five-year-old son of Escondido Beach busted out of the gate with authority and grabbed the early lead. The gelding powered his way through the 400-yard dash, scoring the win well under wraps for Macias by one length in :19.670., the second fastest time in the 12-year history of the stakes race. Beach Mercedes and Juan Marquez finished second over stablemate Beach Cartel and Sammy Mendez, making it an Escondido Beach-sired trifecta.

“He was very fast out of the gate today,” said Macias, who has ridden the horse exclusively for the past two seasons. “The first two races, he started out slow, but then as the race went on, he would get faster. He’s such a great horse to ride. I get on him in the mornings too and he just does everything right.”

Owned and trained by Ron Brown of Connersville, Ind., Beach Treat earned his 11th career win in 28 career starts. His earnings increased to more than $276,000 with the win, which was his fourth career stakes title. He was the third choice on the board, paying $10.00, $5.00, $3.60 across the board.

“I’m tickled to death,” smiled Brown. “It just takes about three starts to get him back in condition, but he’s back. He doesn’t get excited and stays so calm. He has a really good mind. I think he will be just like Tiny’s First Pepsi and make a good pony horse when his racing career is over.”

Beach Treat was bred by Coronet Farm and was a private purchase by Brown, who is assisted in the barn by his wife, Shirley. The Browns are enjoying a second career in racing. They previously owned and operated a very successful trucking business before retiring to racing full time.

Beach Treat is the latest in a long line of Indiana Quarter Horse champions hailing from the Brown Stable, joining Tiny’s First Pepsi, WH Kenny G and Pistolpacking Pepsi as six-figure stakes winners. Brown has several Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses in his barn, but he favors Beach Treat.

“Generally, I take him home to the farm for the winter, but this year I sent him to the Holiday Inn at Stephanie and Buddy Rickly’s place,” laughed Brown. “It was like being at the Holiday Inn. They did a really good job and took such good care of him. He’s a pretty easy keeper. He stays fit on a handful of feed. But he does like to eat, so we let him eat as much as he wants to keep him fit.”

Photos by Coady Photography