Santa’s Second Chance Raffle Winners

December 12, 2023

A live draw was held Monday (December 11) evening to announce the winning bidders of the 2023 Santa’s Second Chance Raffle which featured 21 baskets packed with incredible gifts including tickets to the Toronto Maple Leafs and a full harness.

 

The proceeds of this popular event go to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society which facilitates the retraining and rehoming of retired Standardbreds. The results are as follows. 

 

Basket                                                                                  Winner

 

Basket 1 – Makes Scents To Me                                    Adele Rossi

Basket 2 – For Her                                                            Judy Graham

Basket 3 – Lucky Lotto                                                     Crystal Legace

Basket 4 – Dog Lovers                                                      Sue Brooks

Basket 5 – Chocolate Lovers                                          Shayne Simms

Basket 6 – Game Night                                                    Robin MacKay

Basket 7 – Show Stopper                                                Jenna McNiven     

Basket 8 – Movie Night                                                   Don Pearson

Basket 9 – Girls Night                                                       Monique MacLean

Basket 10 – Equestrian Lovers                                       Brian Laking

Basket 11 – Self Care                                                        Linda Feth

Basket 12 – Preserves                                                      Monique MacLean

Basket 13 – Hockey Night                                               Blake MacIntosh

Basket 14 – On The Go                                                   Cathy Walsh

Basket 15 – Little Italy                                                     Monique MacLean

Basket 16 – Harness Racing                                           Kim Marks

Basket 17 – Date Night                                                    Monica Goss

Basket 18 – Spreads, etc.                                                Norah Parks

Basket 19 – Bakers’ Basket                                             Monique MacLean

Basket 20 – Equine Care                                                 Kim Marks

Basket 21 – OSAS Swag                                                   Fran Brethour


Our sincere appreciation to everyone who took the time to purchase tickets and also to those who donated items to be raffled and congratulations to the successful purchasers. We will be in touch to get your basket items to you.

 

A huge thank you to Emma Christoforou for organizing this wonderful fundraiser with assistance from Jean Posthuma and Joanne Colville. Emma’s goal for this year’s event was $7,500 which she far surpassed as the raffle raised in excess of $8,300.

 

Note – full descriptions of all of the items in each basket can be accessed here.

Eager Emilleah

July 8, 2026
“She’s a very social, happy-go-lucky girl,” is how Susan Mollica describes Emilleah, a four-year-old daughter of Dancin Lou who is currently being retrained for her second career. Emilleah is the latest OSAS horse featured in WEG’s OSAS Pathways which may be read through the link below. https://woodbine.com/mohawk/mohawk-insider/osas-pathways-emilleah/

A Wonderful Second Career

June 29, 2026
“For us, Ares is proof that retirement doesn’t have to mean the end of a horse’s story. Sometimes, it simply means finding the career they were always meant to have,” notes Jessica Abbott regarding her OSAS graduate Isnt He An Angel. The 10 year-old former trotter is enjoying his best life as described by WEG’s Matthew Loman in his latest installment of OSAS pathways which may be read below. OSAS Pathways: Isnt He An Angel - Woodbine Mohawk Park

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.
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