Easy Lover Hanover & OSAS Featured

November 3, 2021

The horse that stepped off the trailer at the foster farm was very much the same one Joanne Colville had seen, up close, over a distinguished 144 race career.


It took less time than a Standardbred opening quarter mile for Colville, who has served as Administrator for OSAS for more than 15 years, to realize that Easy Lover Hanover hadn’t changed a bit from his racing days.


“He is an absolute sweetheart,” said Colville, of the handsome eight-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere, who was retired from racing in August. “He’s an in-your-pocket kind of guy, very willing to please. You saw that right away. He has an amazing personality and demeanor, the kind of horse that is very special.”


The longtime horsewoman would certainly know.


Colville has been an outrider at Woodbine Entertainment racetracks for years, affording her a front-row seat to watch hundreds of horses compete over the course of each racing season.


She quicky recalled Easy Lover Hanover, the pacer who originally sold as a yearling for $100,000 at Harrisburg, before coming to owner Brad Grant and Hall of Fame trainer Ben Wallace two years later.


“Brad had bought him originally as a nice overnight horse and he far exceeded any of their expectations,” said Colville. “He was always quiet and mannerly any time I did see him. And he still is to this day. He likes his work, he likes to go about his work, and he’s a true gentleman.”


Founded in 1996 to assist in the adoption and relocation of retired and non-racing Standardbred horses within Ontario, OSAS is funded through fundraising, contributions from racetracks, horse industry organizations and private donations.


Easy Lover Hanover is one of hundreds of horses the initiative has helped.


“He found a home with a lady who is a previous OSAS adopter, Northumbria Equine,” said Colville, of the farm in Port Hope, Ontario.


“He’s pampered, he’s loving life and that’s what he deserves. Everything fell into place for him. Ben and Brad are very happy. The lady that looked after him is very happy to get all of the updates on how he’s doing.”


Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Easy Lover Hanover, originally trained by Tony Alagna, came to Wallace and Grant through the 2016 Tattersalls January Mixed Sale. The sale was held not long after the barn fire that saw 43 horses perish at Classy Lane Training Centre.


Among the horses lost was Wallace’s stable star at the time and the Grant-owned Apprentice Hanover, another son of Somebeachsomewhere, who had accumulated over $1 million in earnings.


Grant, hopeful that an unproven Easy Lover Hanover could provide both he and Wallace with a hard-knocking horse to work with, paid $70,000 for the bay.


If he was looking to make a good first impression on his new connections, Easy Lover Hanover most certainly did.


He delivered Grant and Wallace with a six race win streak in 2016. Later that year, he made five straight trips to the winner’s circle, which landed him in the Hap Hansen Progress Pace at Dover Downs. After finishing second in his elimination, he took all the spoils in the $314,600 final, in what would be his highest-profile stakes triumph.


In all, Easy Lover Hanover would win 51 races, along with 87 top-three finishes, from 144 starts. His bankroll stands at $1,162, 473.

Colville, whose High Stakes Farm breeds, sells and races trotters and pacers, as well as boarding horses for numerous clients, is grateful that OSAS played an integral role in Easy Lover Hanover’s post-racing life.


“It’s a feather in your cap when people like Brad and Ben support the program. They’ve both been longtime supporters of OSAS. This time, we were able to help them out, by giving a home to a horse that’s very dear to both of them.”


She’s also appreciative of the widespread efforts of the horse racing community throughout the past 18 months.


Despite the worldwide pandemic wreaking havoc on the Ontario horse racing industry, the importance of recognizing the efforts of OSAS never waned.


“I was worried heading into COVID,” offered Colville, who served as Chair of Standardbred Canada for several years and is also on the board of the Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA).


“No racing means no funding or very little funding. But the industry has rallied around us, and they have been absolutely wonderful, very generous. Our golf tournament was sold out, probably 10 days after we posted that we were holding it. It was heartwarming to see.


“The industry, as a whole, has been phenomenal. We have a board that is second to none. They are versed in all aspects of the industry. Jim Evans, our President, has been involved in racing for years, and is very passionate about what we do. We have two Hall of Famers (Bill O’Donnell and Ian Fleming), Heather MacKay does a great job with our news releases and in organizing our recent 25th anniversary events, and Kelly Spencer brings great marketing expertise. Everyone at OSAS works hard and cares deeply about the horses.”


It’s something Colville was reminded of when she finally had the chance to meet the horse that she had marveled at on the racetrack for so many years.


After the first pat, she knew Easy Lover Hanover was destined for the good life.


“He puts a big smile on your face the moment you meet him. He’s a horse that gave so much when he raced and he’s still very much that giving horse. It’s a feel good story and hopefully we’ve got some more.”



(WEG)

Foamy Featured

December 12, 2025
The heartwarming and heartbreaking story of the trotting mare Foamy, who was adopted from OSAS as a Christmas gift, is spotlighted in today’s OSAS Pathways feature written by WEG’s Matthew Loman. Julie Kangas, who now lovingly cares for Foamy, was instrumental in ensuring her friend and neighbour had one last horse. The full story is available here.

Christmas Shop & Support OSAS

December 1, 2025
Once again the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society is pleased to present the Christmas Second Chance Raffle named to reflect our mission to give retired Standardbreds a second chance and forever home. To participate please view the baskets being offered this year at the Facebook page Santa's Second Chance Raffles. Select the ones you wish to bid on and purchase however many tickets you want for it. Ticket prices are $2 or $5 depending upon the basket. Here’s how it works. Raffle tickets can be purchased from November 29th 2025 through to midnight on December 13th 2025. Tickets may be paid through e-transfer to santassecondchanceraffles@gmail.com . In the message please indicate how many tickets you are purchasing and for what baskets. You may also pay in cash in person to Emma Christoforou, Joanne Colville or Jean Posthuma. If you wish to pay by credit card please message Emma to set up a convenient time to do so. If you are unable to pick your basket up and would like it shipped, shipping will be at the basket winners’ expense. The winners will be announced on a live stream on Sunday, December 14, 2025, time to be determined. We encourage you to invite as many people as possible to the Facebook page and the raffle. If you have any questions please contact Joanne at 905-339-6748 or email: osashorses@gmail.com . Thanks to everyone who supports this fundraiser, everyone who contributed to a basket and volunteers behind the scenes, it is all very much appreciated. This year there are 24 gift baskets to choose from as follows. To see full descriptions of each basket please go to the Santa’s Second Chance Raffles group on Facebook by clicking here. 2025 Santa’s Second Chance Baskets #1 – Dog Lovers -Grooming Session, various toys & treats. #2 – Date Night – Restaurant Gift Cards #3 – Mast Harness #4 – Beauty Basket #5 – Custom Equine Designs #6 – On The Go #7 – Hopples & Hangers #8 – Coffee Lovers #9 – Chocolate Lover #10 – Lottery Lover - $125 worth of tickets. #11 – Horse Lovers #12 – Girls Night Out #13 – Preserves #14 – Game Night #15 – Family Night #16 – Wine & Cheese collection #17 - Newborn #18 – Self Care #19 – Car Care #20 – Hockey Night – Leaf tickets #21 - Home #22 – Equine Omega Alpha #23 – LZR Wheels (2025) #24 – OSAS Swag Thanks to everyone for their support, good luck and happy shopping.

Naso Hanover Featured

November 28, 2025
It’s not often that OSAS has a two-year-old in our program but Naso Hanover is not your average two-year-old. “He’s just an old soul. He’s like a 20-year-old horse that’s been doing it forever,” Susan Mollica told WEG’s Matthew Loman in this week’s installment of OSAS Pathways which may be read through the link below. https://woodbine.com/mohawk/mohawk-insider/osas-pathways-naso-hanover/

Easy Lover Hanover Loving Life

November 13, 2025
The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society will celebrate its 30 th anniversary next year and over those three decades several people have adopted more than one horse from our program. That’s certainly the case with Julie Wilson and her husband Rod MacLean, both retired police sergeants. The couple operate Northumbria Equine in Port Hope, Ontario, and have adopted four retired Standardbreds thus far from OSAS, the most famous of which is millionaire pacer Easy Lover Hanover. Affectionately referred to by Julie as ‘the boss of the barn,’ Easy Lover is the latest horse featured in WEG’s OSAS Pathway’s feature which may be read through the link below. https://woodbine.com/mohawk/mohawk-news/osas-pathways-easy-lover-hanover/

Derf Hanover Joins OSAS

November 6, 2025
The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society is pleased to welcome the tough campaigner, Derf Hanover to our program. The talented trotter earned well over half a million dollars the hard way with 234 career starts in 10 seasons at the track. A son of Cantab Hall, Derf earned his life mark of 1:52.3 last year as a 10-year-old while racing at Mohawk. A regular on the WEG circuit for the past few years, Derf started his racing career south of the border under the guidance of trainer Ake Svanstedt. Bred by the renowned Hanover Shoe Farms, Derf sold as a yearling for $45,000. It wasn’t until his four-year-old season that he found his groove and he performed steadily for the next few years earning an average of $87,000 in each of his next six years at the track. From his five-year-old season on he raced in Ontario (with the exception of four starts at Harrahs in 2021). His last full season of racing was spent in the stable of Amanda and Tom Riley who remember him fondly. “Derf is quite the character; he likes to put on that he’s a grumpy old man but with some treats and scratches he melts right into you. He’s great with other horses; usually when he finds his pal he doesn’t let anyone else in his little posse. He’s as tough as they come,” said Tom recently. Derf Hanover is the most talented of his dam’s offspring, but his family is loaded with top performers. His dam is a half-sister to $200,000 winner Cocktail Hour who in turn is the dam of $1.3 million winner Bar Hopping. His second dam is a full sister to the great JEFS Spice. OSAS welcomes Derf Hanover into our program where he will enter training once he’s decompressed from racetrack life.

Conrad Seelster Passes

November 3, 2025
Iron tough racehorse and well loved retiree Conrad Seelster has passed. He was 33. The son of Threefold made an incredible 445 starts during his racing career with a lifetime summary of 54-61-61 for $310,285 in earnings. He was adopted from the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society at the conclusion of his racing career by noted equine artist Michelle Hogan Casson of Miller Lake, Ontario. Conrad happily spent the last 15 years as part of Michelle’s family. His story was shared by OSAS a few years back and may be read https://www.osas.ca/osas-stories#AnEquineLoveStory

Playsomthincountry On Stage

October 30, 2025
WEG’s Matthew Lemon is spotlighting horses connected to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society in a bi-weekly feature called OSAS Pathways. Playsomthincountry is featured in the latest installment. The 16-year-old pacer hails from two of Canada’s longest running and well known Standardbred nurseries. He was bred by Seelster Farms, a stalwart in the industry for many years now and now operated by the second generation of Van Bussel family. His dam, Daylon Luxury, was bred and raised by Dave and Mary Lemon’s Daylon Farms of Komoka, Ontario. Playsomthincountry is a half-brother to $200,000 winner Luxury Seelster p, 4, 1:53s and another sister, Luxury Vacation, is the dam of a horse currently racing in Ontario, Honolulu Vacation. That four-year-old by Betterthancheddar earned his life mark of 1:53s with a win at Mohawk earlier this year. Honolulu Vacation last raced this past Sunday (October 26) at Flamboro for trainer Cody Hawkins who was also the trainer and owner of Playsomthincountry during his career. To read the story, please use the link below.  https://woodbine.com/mohawk/mohawk-news/osas-pathways-playsomthincountry/

WEG Profiles OSAS Horses

October 17, 2025
Matthew Lomon of Woodbine Entertainment has started a series which will be updated twice a month and feature a horse connected to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society. The feature began this week with Beach Bet the first horse in the spotlight. A five-year-old son of All Bets Off, Beach Bet is currently training at the foster farm of Susan and Bert Mollica before embarking on his second career as a riding horse. Beach Bet, who Susan refers to as an equine Dennis The Menace, has royalty in his bloodlines as his second dam is a half-sister to one of the best pacers of all time, Somebeachsomewhere. The story may be read through this link. OSAS is a charitable organization founded in 1996 to assist in the adoption and relocation of retired and non-racing Standardbred horses and showcases the versatility of the breed.

Reverend Is A Rockstar

September 19, 2025
Reverend Hanover was a star on the track during his racing career but he’s even busier these days representing the Standardbred breed as one of the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society’s ambassadors. Now 13, the son of Sportswriter’s most recent promotion was an appearance on Breakfast Television on September 18. OSAS’s Joanne Colville brought Reverend to Mohawk Racetrack where she met with CITY TV’s Rick Campanelli along with leading driver Bob McClure. Outfitted in Louis-Philippe Roy’s colours, Rick went for a tour around Mohawk with Bob as they discussed the upcoming incredible night of racing on Saturday night which features two $1 million races – the Mohawk Million and Metro Final for rookie trotters and pacers respectively along with the rich Elengantimage, Shes A Great Lady and Canadian Trotting Classic finals. “As always Rev was a rockstar,” Joanne noted. “He’s always such a professional and today was no different. Part of OSAS’s mandate is to showcase the Standardbred breed and he’s perfect for that role.” A couple of week ago Reverend Hanover participated, along with another OSAS ambassador, The Painted Pony, at Mohawk’s Community Day which encouraged patrons to bring their family to the track and get a close up look at a harness horse. Many of the visitors were able to sit beside a driver and ride behind Reverend as he took guests around the racetrack. Giving folks a new perspective of racing, from the actual driver’s view, is nothing new for Reverend Hanover. For several years now he has served as OSAS’s Drive With Us horse. Throughout the summer he is on hand at the Campbellville track pulling double duty. At the start of the evening he serves as the Meet & Greet horse and then gives folks rides around the oval in between races. During his career Reverend Hanover was a top performer in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. In total he made 27 lifetime starts and earned $551,213. He last raced in 2017 but he still makes lots of trips around the racetrack in his ambassador role. To watch the CITY TV segment please click here.

Wheels On Fire Joins OSAS

September 18, 2025
Iron horse Wheels On Fire has joined the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society where he’ll be trained for a second career after excelling at his first. As a racehorse the now 10 year-old faced the gate 197 times. He retires with an impressive summary of 51-41-29 and $1.2 million in earnings. The son of Somebeachsomewhere began his career as a two-year-old in 2017 and retired in September of 2025. His most productive year was 2022, as a seven-year-old, when he won more than $316,000 racing primarily in the preferred class on the WEG circuit. The previous season he won the O’Brien Award as Canada’s top older male pacer of the year. “He has been a great horse to have as well as a fan favourite for many years. He retires with over $1.2 million on his card as well as an O’Brien Award to his credit,” noted owner Brad Grant when he announced Wheels On Fire’s retirement last month. Wheels On Fire’s dam, Ab Fab, is a sister to three millionaire performers – Ashlees Big Guy, Betterthancheddar and Courtly Choice. She is also a sister to the dam of the fastest harness horse of all time, Bulldog Hanover. OSAS is honoured to assist this talented performer as he transitions into life away from the racetrack.
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