Charity Challenge Participants Announced

September 14, 2022

The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society was very fortunate to win the inaugural Breeders Crown Charity Challenge in 2019. The Breeders Crown returns to Mohawk this year along with the Challenge. The participants for this year’s event, sponsored by the Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership, were announced today.


In just three years the BCCC has raised more than $800,000 for local charities of each year’s Breeders Crown host track. In 2021, the challenge set a new event record, raising over $400,000 for charities in The Meadowlands area.


This year’s event is also shaping up to be something special. The format showcases four teams, with each entry comprised of a prominent owner, their charity of choice, and a leading driver at Mohawk, competing to net the largest donation amount from a minimum pool of $200,000. 


Here are the four teams:

Team Brad Grant/Doug McNair - Charity: Milton District Hospital Foundation 

Team Determination/Bob McClure – Charity: Kids Help Phone Line 

Team Steve Heimbecker/James MacDonald – Charity: Pine River Institute 

Team Libfeld-Katz/Louis-Philippe Roy – Charity: Toronto General Hospital Heart Research Centre - SickKids Hospital Toronto 


Each team has pledged $25,000, which guarantees their charity of choice a minimum donation in that amount. An additional $100,000 has been raised through donations made by industry participants. 


With a minimum $25,000 guaranteed to be directed to each charity, the additional monies will be decided through a Driver Challenge and Social Media Challenge. 


“This is a great addition to an already exciting event,” said Bob McClure. “It’s one more thing that adds to the excitement of the Breeders Crown. I’m really happy to be part of it.” 


A sentiment echoed by Doug McNair. “I’m looking forward to teaming up with my fellow drivers to help raise money for some very worthwhile charities.” 


Fifty thousand dollars will be distributed to the charities based on each driver’s performance in the Ontario Sires Stakes Lampman Cup standings. The team with the driver earning the most points in the OSS season will be awarded $20,000. The remaining $30,000 will be distributed as $15,000, $10,000, and $5,000, respectively, based on each driver’s ranking in the standings. 

Fifty thousand dollars will be directed to the charities based on each team’s social media engagement. The team creating the most engagement by using their team hashtag will earn $20,000. The remaining $30,000 will be distributed as $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, based on each team’s engagement numbers. 


The team hashtags are listed below. Supporters are asked to go on Twitter and use the hashtag of their favourite team and also include #CrownCharity22. 

Team Brad Grant/Doug McNair - #GrantUsVictory 

Team Determination/Bob McClure - #DeterminedToWin 

Team Steve Heimbecker/James MacDonald - #BeckerThanTheRest 

Team Libfeld-Katz/Louis-Philippe Roy - #MeetTheFieldofKatz 


The 2022 Breeders Crown presented by Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership will take place on Friday, October 28 and Saturday, October 29 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. 


“We are looking forward to putting on a first-class event and making this year’s Breeders Crown one of the most memorable editions in its storied history,” said Jim Lawson, Woodbine’s CEO. “From a world class night of racing, to raising money and awareness for deserving charities, to the support of so many passionate and caring horse people, this year’s Breeders Crown is something we can all truly be proud.”


The Breeders Crown Charity Challenge would not be possible without the generous support of the following individuals and groups: 


Marvin Katz 

Al Libfeld 

Determination 

Brad Grant 

Steve Heimbecker 

Bob McClure 

Doug McNair 

James MacDonald 

Louis-Philippe Roy 


Diamond Pledges: 

Alagna Racing 

Bettors Delight Syndicate – Blue Chip Farms 

Hanover Shoe Farms 

Hunterton Farm 

Southwind Farms 

Lindy Farms 

Brittany Farms 

Muscle Mass – Bob Brady 

Seelster Farms 

Tara Hills Stud 

Winbak Farm 

Additional Pledges: 

Carmen Auciello 

John Bax 

Cameo Hills Farm 

Richard Moreau 


(WEG)

OSAS Turns 30

June 9, 2026
The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society is proud to be celebrating our 30 th anniversary in 2026. Over those three decades we have fostered second careers and found forever homes for hundreds of pacers and trotters. A main component of OSAS’s mandate is to showcase the versatility of the Standardbred horse, a goal which has been reached with so many graduates enjoying second careers as riding horses. Some disciplines include trail or distance riding, dressage, pleasure, etc. One of our graduates, Masseno, is currently a member of the Canadian Cowgirls Precision Drill team. To celebrate this milestone, we have launched our “30 Years, 30 Stories” campaign which will feature horses and people who have contributed to OSAS’s success and will be released throughout the year. These can be read and viewed on our website osas.ca and on our Facebook page. We have also commissioned a limited series of t-shirts featuring the incredibly talented Beau Jangles, one of the best Ontario-bred pacers of all time. These will be available for sale throughout the year at various racetracks and online. To everyone who has supported OSAS, our horses and our volunteers, a very sincere thank you. We look forward to finding forever homes for our wonderful breed for many years to come. Donations at osas.ca are always appreciated.

Spotlight On James Arthur

June 9, 2026
The star of the most recent OSAS Pathways by Matthew Loman is James Arthur who will be heading to his forever home this week. To read the full story please click OSAS Pathways: James Arthur - Woodbine Mohawk Park

Positive Finish For Bettor Notbitter

May 8, 2026
“I would like to thank driver Phil Hudon, Mohawk’s starting gate crew and track maintenance team, OSAS’ financial support, the veterinarians, blacksmiths, caregivers, and, in particular, Joanne Colville, for not giving up on Bettor Notbitter. He deserved the effort,” notes Dr. Julie Ballinger. Her comments are part of the latest installment of OSAS pathways written by Matthew Loman and featuring iron horse Bettor Notbitter who is now enjoying a wonderful retirement after a journeyman career with a scary conclusion. To read the full story please click below. OSAS Pathways: Bettor Notbitter - Woodbine Mohawk Park

Wheels Enjoying Life

April 27, 2026
Wheels On Fire, a prolific race horse who hails from pacing royalty, is the latest horse profiled in OSAS Pathways by WEG’s Matthew Loman. A winner of over $1 million during his racing career, Wheels is enjoying his training for his second career as a riding horse. The full story may be read: OSAS Pathways: Wheels On Fire - Woodbine Mohawk Park

KJ Owen Enjoying Retirement

March 23, 2026
After a 10 year racing career which saw him face the gate close to 300 times, KJ Owen is now learning the ropes as a riding horse. His lessons are going well, although he did take his trainer, Bert Mollica, for an unexpected ride in the early going. Matthew Loman profiles the 12 year-old gelding in the latest OSAS Pathways which may be read here.

Nutzz N Boltzz And Reven Up Featured

March 12, 2026
“Having ridden and owned a variety of horses over the last 35 years, the Standardbreds are the most honest ones out there. They are so loyal, smart, safe and sound, they don’t have many bad or off days it seems. So, for that I will forever be grateful,” notes Fran Brethour when speaking of her OSAS graduates Nutzz N Boltzz and Reven Up. Fran praises her Standardbreds in the latest OSAS Pathways feature by Matthew Loman which may be read through the link below. https://woodbine.com/mohawk/mohawk-insider/osas-pathways-nutzz-n-boltzz-reven-up/ 

KJ Owen Joins OSAS

March 6, 2026
OSAS is pleased to welcome the iron tough KJ Owen to their roster. A 12 year-old gelding by Roll With Joe, KJ Owen faced the gate an incredible 297 time over his 10 year career. He recorded his 50 th lifetime win in April of last year at Flamboro with Austin Sorrie at the controls. Upon his retirement in January of this year he sported a summary of 52-41-38 for $311,000 banked. The first foal of Winsmith Jess, KJ Owen raced primarily in the US at various racetracks. His first Canadian start was in January of 2025 at Mohawk. He has two brothers with earnings over $200,000 – KJ Hunter and KJ Leo both of whom are still racing at Monticello Raceway. Owen is now at Susan and Bert Mollica’s foster farm where he will be trained for his second career.

Second Career For Steel Reserve

February 28, 2026
“I’ve never seen a horse with the emotions he’s shown. When he first arrived, my husband and I were both like, ‘We don’t know what to do.’ We had never seen a horse cry before but there were literal tears in his eyes,” said Susan Mollica of OSAS graduate Steel Reserve. Bert Mollica used a different training technique with the warhorse whose second career will be somewhat unique. His story is profiled in the latest installment of OSAS Pathways by Matthew Loman and may be read here.

OSAS Auction Closed

February 22, 2026
The Ontario Stallion Adoption Society’s 2026 Stallion Auction has now closed. Breedings to 16 sires from Ontario and PEI were offered over the past four days. OSAS extends sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s auction including the stallion owners, the stud farms and everyone who placed a bid. Congratulations to the successful bidders and the best of luck. To view the full list of stallions and buyers please click here.

OSAS Stallion Auction Closes Friday At Noon

February 19, 2026
Please be advised that the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society’s 2026 Stallion auction will close Friday, February 20 th at noon. It is important to note that the end time can be extended to a maximum of 30 minutes on each of the 16 stallion breedings available if there is continued bidding. You are notified by email and/or text (if you select that option) if you are the winning bidder and if someone has outbid you. This year OSAS is using 32 Auctions as their auction platform site. Here is the explanation of how the extended bidding works: How does Extended Bidding work? If an item receives a bid during the final three (3) minutes of the auction, the item end time will be extended to allow for 3 additional minutes of bidding. This process repeats until no new bids are received during the final 3 minutes of the item bidding window or the auction has been extended for a maximum of 30 minutes beyond the original end time. When an auction is extended, you'll see Extended Bidding messages displayed throughout the auction with a link for easily viewing all of the extended items. For further information on this feature, and an example, please click here. Here is the link to the actual auction site.
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