Jim Evans (President)

Jim has been involved in Harness Racing for decades. First, as a child, visiting the “Golden Horseshoe“ tracks with his race-fan parents, then as a casual participant enjoying the sport while cheering for his parents’ stable interests. This hobby became a career for Jim in 1996 when he began training their stable of horses, and minding their 76 acre standardbred farm near Campbellville. After serving as a volunteer for OSAS from 1998-2000, Jim has been on the Board of Directors since 2000. He was appointed to the unpaid position of President in August of 2007 and remains as such, chairing meetings of the Board of Directors, and acting in an executive role when required.

A full-time trainer until 2007, life events forced Jim to revert back to his initial career path. Now a practicing lawyer in Burlington, Jim lives in Milton with his wife Morag and son David. Although completely removed from the day-to-day grind of the harness industry, Jim views his involvement with OSAS as a way to stay connected to both the horses he loves and to his many friends in the business.

Bill O'Donnell (Vice President)

One of the true superstars in harness racing over the past few decades, Bill O’Donnell was known as the Magic Man during his tenure as one of the sports’ all time best catch drivers. O’Donnell has well over 5,700 lifetime victories as a driver with just under $100 million earned by the horses he has guided. A native of Springhill, Nova Scotia, O’Donnell was the leading driver at the Mecca of harness racing, the Meadowlands in New Jersey, for many years and established a number of records with respect to wins and earnings.

In 1984 he set a record for single season earnings with more than $9 million banked and topped that the following year when he became the first driver to earn more than $10 million in one year. Bill O’Donnell has captured most of the sports’ premier races, many of them on several occasions.

Some of the memorable horses he’s been associated with include Nihilator, Prakas, Cambest, Barberry Spur, Redskin, Camtastic, Staying Together, Valley Victory, Sweet Reflection, Delinquent Account and Artsplace.

O’Donnell’s accomplishments have been recognized by his inductions into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.

In 2001 O’Donnell moved back to Canada, settling in Acton, Ontario, to focus more on training horses. Since then he has also become involved in the politics of racing, giving much of his time and considerable expertise to several horsemen’s groups. He currently serves as President of the Central Ontario Standardbred Association, which has the racing contract with the largest track operator in Canada, Woodbine Entertainment Group. In addition he serves as the representative for Standardbred horse people on the board of the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association.

“I was invited to join the board of OSAS in 2009 as I am well aware that some of these racehorses end up in not so nice places to spend the rest of their days after their career as a racehorse is over,” explains O’Donnell. “These horses give us great pleasure watching them race as well as earn a number of people a very good living and I believe in turn they deserve to have a good home to live out their retirement which the board and staff at OSAS strive to ensure.”

Karen Breen (Director)

As the owner of Tackmaster Harness, Karen Breen is very familiar to the majority of horse people competing in Ontario. She has owned the successful tack store for close to 30 years. The main Tackmaster operation is located on the backstretch of Mohawk Racetrack where Karen’s hands on approach to her business is one of the reasons for its success and longevity. The last thing Karen had pictured herself doing when she graduated from high school in St. Catharines, Ontario, was operating a tack shop, but sometimes fate intervenes. She was employed at Garden City Racetrack where she met George Griffith, the owner of Tackmaster and soon found herself working for him. For several years she ran the operation while Griffith was in Florida and expanded the product lines during that time. When Griffith passed away in 1980 he left Karen the business and she’s been happily running it every since.

She doesn’t just sell the tack harness horses wear, Karen has also owned a few horses of her own including the $183,000 winner Twin B Keyko who would later produce the millionaire pacer Zooka.

In addition to her business and horses, Karen has always found time to lend her hand to worthwhile causes on the backstretch, including many fundraisers. Her role as a director of OSAS further demonstrates her commitment to the industry.

Heather MacKay Roberts (Director)

With parents that raced Standardbreds and later operated a breeding farm for 30 years, Heather grew up around, working with and loving harness horses. A graduate of the inaugural Harness Horse Industry Operations program at Seneca College, she worked as a writer for The Standardbred Record for five years upon her graduation. She then spent 15 years as Managing Editor of Trot Magazine and Assistant Manager and then Manager of Marketing at the Canadian Trotting Association (now Standardbred Canada). During her tenure there she was instrumental in introducing the highly coveted O’Brien Awards and for 15 years co-ordinated the annual black tie awards ceremony. She also was responsible for the execution of the 1989 World Trotting Conference and World Driving Championship when they were hosted in Toronto and Edmonton.

She was a member of the initial board of directors for OSAS when it was formed in 1995. She later served as a member and then Chair of the Ontario Sires Stakes Promotions Committee during which time the Super Finals and Grassroots Championships were introduced.

For the past seven years Heather has been the Managing Editor of The Harness Edge, a popular industry news website and online harness racing publication.

“One of my favourite places to be is in a field with horses that are loved. My involvement with OSAS is my small way of ensuring as many horses as possible are afforded the opportunity to find that field,” she said.

Joanne Colville (Events Coordinator)

Renowned equally for her horsemanship and business savvy, Joanne Colville adds Event Coordinator for OSAS to her impressive list of accomplishments. Colville currently owns and operates High Stakes Farm, a 30-acre property specializing in breeding, boarding, rehabilitation and racing stock. The Moffat, ON operation serves as headquarters for her booming High Stakes sale services.

Created from scratch by Colville just_15__ years ago, High Stakes is now the largest Standardbred consignment company in Canada, and a major player at yearling sales on both sides of the border.

Ever ambitious and dedicated to the equine industry, Colville's past experience includes corporate roles within Standardbred Canada and the Woodbine Entertainment Group, where she also served as the full-time parade marshall for six years.

Having ridden in every discipline, and won numerous awards for speed events, Colville also worked at the Hendervale Equestrian Complex covering the Olympic Trials.

Regarded as one of the hardest-working and smartest-working individuals in the industry, Colville is passionate about OSAS and the industry it serves.

Jennifer Duncan (Director)

Jen Duncan comes from a harness racing family that has been involved with racing for over 40 years. Her grandparents have a farm in Stoney Creek where she keeps her retired racehorse, now broodmare, Ferball. Jen stays busy with her career as a Chartered Accountant but makes time on weekends and any chance she gets to focus on her growing stable of now 3 as Ferball foaled her second filly with Jen on March 31 this year.

"I've been on the board of directors with OSAS for over 1 year now and have had the pleasure of getting to see this organization grow and progress on so many levels. This includes increased adoption successes, fundraising efforts and promotional events, and fostering horses no matter what their temperament or problem.

I plan to continue to act with the board and people at OSAS in the best interests of the horses and look forward to the organization's continued success.

I am proud to be a director of OSAS, not only for its positive impact on harness racing and its purpose of providing retired horses a loving, long lasting home, but also for getting the chance to witness such outstanding people who dedicate themselves on a regular basis to help OSAS as well as those who contribute to such an amazing cause."