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)

Eager Emilleah

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A Wonderful Second Career

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“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

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Positive Finish For Bettor Notbitter

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“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

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“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/ 

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Second Career For Steel Reserve

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“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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