Ontario-Sired Performers On Fire

OSAS • September 20, 2019

September 20, 2019 - One of the more under reported stories this racing season is the incredible success of colts and fillies by Ontario sires.

Forbidden Trade, a son of Ontario stalwart and perennial leading sire Kadabra, captured the most prestigious trotting race on the calendar, the Hambletonian, last month.

The highest earning horse to date this year in North America (according to USTA stats) is Bettors Wish with $1.1 million banked to date. His sire, Bettors Delight, stands at the Ontario branch of Winbak Farms. Bettors Wish was a close second in Canada’s richest harness racing, the North America Cup and is yet to finish worse than second this year with nine wins and four seconds in 13 attempts.

One of the most anticipated weeks of racing is Jug week culminating with the Little Brown Jug which was contested yesterday. The Bettors Delight son Fast N Furious won a division of the first heat and finished a strong second in the final. Another Bettors Delight offspring, Ideation Hanover, was second in the Jug distaff companion event, the Jugette.

The richest performer to date in the OSS this year is the three-year-old pacing colt Century Farroh who has tucked more than $369,000 in OSS loot under his harness this year for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and owners Ratchford Stables of Nova Scotia.
The talented colt has over $600,000 banked this year thanks to wins against open competition in the Simcoe Stakes, Somebeachsomwhere and North America Cup consolation. Farroh is sired by the late, great Mach Three who stood alongside Kadabra at Tara Hills Stud in Port Perry.

Tomorrow night at Mohawk finds a stakes laden card anchored by the richest race for rookie pacing colts in Canada, the $750,000 Metro. Four of the 10 starters are Ontario-sired (see below). Among them is the Bettors Delight colt Tall Dark Stranger who is the only Metro finalist with an unbeaten record coming into the contest.

Owned by Ontario’s Marvin Katz along with partners Crawford Farms Racing, Caviart Farms and Howard Taylor, Tall Dark Stranger has won all five races he’s competed in including two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events. Bred by James Avritt of Kentucky, the handsome colt sold as a yearling for $350,000 last year. Ontario race fans will recognize his dam, the top mare Precocious Beauty, who was campaigned by Gregg McNair.

Also on tap tomorrow night is the $540,000 Shes A Great Lady finale for rookie pacing fillies with five of the finalists sired by Ontario stallions. What’s also interesting to note is that of the non Ontario-sired starters in the Shes A Great Lady (named in honour of one of the top performers in the OSS more than two decades ago) final, two are by Somebeachsomewhere and two are by his son Captaintreacherous. Somebeach, a son of Mach Three, is of course one of the most talented graduates ever of the OSS program.


On the Metro Side threre are three sons of the Beach and two by Captaintreacherous. The Ontario-sired performers in each final are as follows:


$540,000 Shes A Great Lady Final

Off The Press (Sportswriter)

Saulsbrook Raven (Big Jim)

Alicorn (Bettors Delight)

Peaky Sneaky (Bettors Delight)

Betalady (Bettors Delight)


$750,000 Metro Final

Ys Mathis (Sportswriter)

Tall Dark Stranger (Bettors Delight)

One For Julius (Hes Watching)

Beach Blanket Book (Sportswriter)

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.

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).
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