Nutzz N Boltzz Represents Standardbreds Well

OSAS • Photos by Fran Brethour • August 11, 2019

August 11, 2019 - “The ride had over a hundred horses and riders from all over Ontario to support Breast Cancer. I’m pretty sure I was the only person riding a Standardbred that I could see,” noted Fran Brethour who rode Nutzz N Boltzz in yesterday’s event in the Dufferin Forest near Mansfield.

“It’s their 10thanniversary. I believe they usually raise around $20,000 in donations each year. Even though Nutzz N Boltzz is only four, and only had a couple of rides on him before I got him a few short months ago from OSAS, he acts more like an eight-year-old seasoned horse,” praised Fran who is a strong advocate of Standardbreds as riding horses.

“I’ve put about 50 to 60 rides on him so far. My job has been easy training him to be a saddle horse because of all the hard working trainers and grooms who break, handle and rub on these horses every day. I need to teach them to be soft, supple, bend and be responsive to my seat and legs, that’s about it, all the foundation and hard work is already done.

“It’s partly because this breed’s nature is to be willing, kind, bold and smart but the people spending the six and seven days a week caring, feeding, jogging and training them at an early age is a big part of it. It’s hard to find really well broke, saddle horses nowadays because most people work outside the home and there’s not a lot of extra time for the consistency that young horses need,” reasoned Fran whose husband Fred is a judge with the AGCO following a career as a trainer/driver.

Nutzz N Boltzz is the third horse Fran has adopted from OSAS the first being the Odds Against mare April Odds who she sadly had to put down this past winter at 22.

“She was a super horse. I never would have gotten another horse if she didn’t age; she was special. She earned a lot of respect from naysayers over the years on the trail but she always proved everybody wrong! She would go places most horses wouldn’t go, she was unreal and looked after me while doing it.

“When I went to look at horses again I wasn’t super excited to be honest. I think that’s why I’m so elated because these geldings are on their way to being as good as she was,” explained Fran who in addition to providing Nutzz N Boltzz a great new home, also adopted Reven Up from OSAS recently.

A 12 year-old gelding, Reven Up is a son of Revenue S who Fran reports went for a ride away from home, the Ganaraska Forest, for the third time today and handled it like a champion. “This horse is pure gold,” she said.

OSAS has been making a concerted effort this year to expose the versatility and talents of Standardbreds to riding, competing and show people who haven’t been exposed to them before. An experienced horse woman such as Fran, aboard these graduates, is the best advertising for our horses.

“I’ve been riding horses for 27 years now – everything from hunter jumpers and barrel racers and lots of Standardbreds. Two things I know about these guys is that over the years they have become more refined, beautiful and athletic and when you put their bridles on, it’s business, they don’t look for excuses to get out of work, they show up every time. If trouble happens they seem to look to you for help, they don’t selfishly cash out.

“I ride alone a lot, over thousands of miles the past 13 years on roads, in forests, over ranches and at speed and I don’t think I could fill a hand of fingers of how many times I’ve been really scared or not wanting to ride my horse again. They’re smart, kind, tough, willing and safe – what else can I ask for?”

A quick learner, with yesterday’s ride being the first real ride away from home, Nutzz N Boltzz is a four-year-old gelding by Art Major who last raced late in 2018 from the Walter Whelan stable; he’d previously been raced by Bob Young. He earned a total of $16,137 before being placed with OSAS.

He’s a very well bred horse as his dam is Town Pro Miss a daughter of the great Town Pro. That mare was a standout three decades ago for trainer Stew Firlotte and breeder/owners and business partners Brian Webster and Ray Bednarz. The Big Towner daughter would earn $1.2 million during her illustrious career.

She was named two-year-old pacing filly of the year at the inaugural O’Brien Awards in 1989 and Horse of the Year the following season. She would go on to become a successful broodmare for White Birch Farm with her most successful performer being the $3 million winner Darlins Delight who has since produced $1.1 million winner Darlinonthebeach.

Well bred, well mannered and now very much well loved; Nutzz N Boltzz has certainly found his forever home.

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.

Big Thanks

September 11, 2025
The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society is very fortunate to be strongly supported by the entire harness racing industry in the province and that was certainly evident from yesterday’s annual golf tournament. The popular event sold out quickly and Wildwinds Golf Course was an ideal course once again this year. OSAS is sincerely grateful to everyone who contributed to this year’s success – the golfers, the sponsors, our incredible volunteers and support staff and all those who contributed prizes. We, and all of the OSAS horses, acknowledge and appreciate your support.

OSAS Golf Reminder

September 9, 2025
The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society would like to remind participants that their annual golf tournament starts tomorrow at Wildwinds Golf Links (Guelph). Shotgun start is at 1 p.m. The always popular fundraiser, now in its 27 th year, sold out very quickly. OSAS thanks all those who signed up to golf and look forward to hosting you tomorrow. Note that registration takes place from 11:45 followed by lunch prior to tee off. Additional thanks to all those who supported the tournament through hole sponsorship and prize donations.

2025 OSAS Golf Tournament Set

July 8, 2025
For the 27 th year, the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society will be hosting a golf tournament to help support our mandate to find forever homes for retired harness horses. This year’s tourney will be held on Wednesday, September 10 th at the Wildwinds Golf Links (near Guelph). Golfers will receive a BBQ lunch, golf, cart, a steak and chicken dinner and prizes. Price per golfer is $165 and hole sponsors are $200. Shotgun start is 1 p.m. Please register early as this popular event always fills up quickly. Non golfers are more than welcome to attend and/or contribute by sponsoring a hole or an item for the prize table. Please contact Joanne Colville 905-339-6748 ( osashorses@gmail.com ) or Emma Christoforou 289-971-4675 to register to play, regarding sponsorship, to donate prizes or for additional information.

Sweet Deisel To OSAS

June 29, 2025
A popular pacer on the WEG circuit for the past several years, Sweet Deisel, has joined OSAS on his way to finding his forever retirement home. A son of Sweet Lou, the gelding had his most productive season of racing last year at age eight, winning over $125,000 in purse money, all at Mohawk. It was also a hectic time for him as he was claimed five times in five months in 2024. Sweet Deisel’s quickest time of 1:50 was first earned at four and then matched again at five. In total he faced the gate 120 times and retired with a summary of 30-24-12 for $355,125 banked. Sweet Deisel is the first foal of his Bettors Delight dam Gentlemens Delight, a full sister to the $1.5 million winner See You At Peelers, a world record holder and winner of 22 races in a row in her distinguished career. She is also a half-sister to the dam of last year’s O’Brien Award winner Its A Love Thing. Sweet Deisel will be enjoying some time for R&R away from the racetrack before he’ll begin training for his second career.

WEG's Support For OSAS Continues

June 17, 2025
The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society is so grateful for the support of Woodbine Entertainment Group who generously donated $20,000 to OSAS this past weekend. We are so fortunate to partner with WEG on numerous projects including having a Meet & Greet horse at Mohawk throughout the summer months to allow newcomers the opportunity to pet a horse for the first time. We also give patrons the opportunity to sit behind an incredible Standardbred horse through our Drive With Us program with features our wonderful ambassador Reverend Hanover. WEG and OSAS have been working together for the benefit of the industry for close to 30 years and we appreciate their unwavering support. CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY

Another Iron Horse Enters OSAS

April 28, 2025
Casimir Richie P, who made a total of 157 lifetime starts during his long career, has started training for his second role as a riding horse at the OSAS foster farm owned and operated by Susan and Bert Mollica. A now 10 year-old son of Astronomical, Richie earned $478,000 during his racing career which started as a rookie in 2017. Under the guidance of trainer Dr. Ian Moore, he was competitive as a two-year-old, winning an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots event at Grand River Raceway as well as an elimination of the Battle Of Waterloo (fifth in final). At three he was a multiple OSS winner and took in over $100,000 and his four-year-old campaign was his richest with over $130,000 in purses earned thanks to strong showings in WEG’s preferred paces. The highlight of his five-year-old season was a win in the coveted Gold Cup & Saucer trials at Charlottetown Driving Park. During his storied racing career Casimir Richie P started at 15 different racetracks across North America. His last official start was a four length win at London’s Western Fair Raceway on January 29 th of this year. Bred by Casmir Farms of Hagar, Ontario, Richie is the richest performer of his dam, Casimir Hugs who has produced three other $200,000+ winners in Tuggingoncredit ($307,000), Rays Kredit ($259,000) and Grits N Gravy ($235,000).

Standardbred Endurance Riders Wanted

April 14, 2025
The Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association (OCTRA) is reaching out to riders of Standardbreds to participate in a training ride on May 3. There are two rides, one seven miles, the other 14, and will be held at the Dufferin County Forest Main Tract. The event also includes sessions covering the following topics: Camping with your horse Trail etiquette Horse Health, before during and after the ride Vetting the horse in for the ride Taking your horses heart rate Pacing your horse’s speed And an introduction to the different OCTRA disciplines, 1) Set Speed, 2) Ride & Tie, 3) Limited Distance, 4) Competitive Trail Riding, 5) Endurance. The event organizers are encouraging riders with Standardbreds to take part and are willing to pay the entry fee for four participants riding a harness horse. The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society already has representation with Sarah Cutherbertson who adopted the successful trotter West Grey Bay several years ago. Their story may be read here. OSAS strongly supports this initiative as it follows our mandate to showcase the versatility of the Standardbred bred to a wide, relevant audience and encourages anyone interested in participating to visit the OCTRA’s website for more information or to enter the event.
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