OSAS – Celebrating 25 Years

July 6, 2021

Founded in 1996, the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021. The official adoption agency in the province for Standardbreds, OSAS has found forever homes for more than 1,000 horses. 

 

Anita TenBruggencate is responsible for creating OSAS along with former Ontario Harness Horse Association General Manager Reed Lawson. Anita, an Early Childhood Educator who also worked as a harness racing caretaker, approached OHHA in the mid 1990s with the idea of establishing an organization to find horses a permanent, loving home once their racing careers were over.

 

Reed gathered several people within the industry to work with Anita and determine the viability of such a venture. It took some time to establish the association, obtain charitable status and appoint a board of directors who would craft the initial adoption placement agreements, guardian and foster farm responsibilities, etc. Over the years those have been changed and updated to reflect the current state of the industry. 

 

Anita served as OSAS’s first administrator until she elected to stay home with her daughters but she continued to assist OSAS part time for a few years. For the past several years the administrative job has been capably managed by Joanne Colville who is uniquely suited to the all encompassing role. 

 

As a Standardbred breeder for many years and past chair of Standardbred Canada, Joanne has a farm near Moffat, where most of the OSAS horses arrive before transferring to a foster facility. In addition, Joanne serves as the outrider at Mohawk where she interacts with horse people across the province on a nightly basis and she is also a board member of the Central Ontario Standardbred Association. 

 

Every horse that comes into OSAS is given a thorough assessment prior to going to a foster home. Currently OSAS has several foster farms as well as two training facilities operated by Shelley Higgins and Susan and Bert Mollica. A horse’s secondary career (trail riding, competitions, companions, etc.) is based largely on their soundness and temperament. Once it is determined that the horse has completed its training and is ready for a new home, Joanne makes arrangements for potential adopters to visit and ascertain if they would be a good fit. 


People wanting to adopt an OSAS horse are required to fill out an application on the OSAS website and a site inspection of their facility is done to ensure its suitability. After a horse is successfully adopted, guardians will continue to follow up with inspections and submit their reports to OSAS. 


OSAS is guided by Joanne and a board of dedicated directors with a myriad of skills in the business - Jim Evans, Bill O’Donnell, Heather MacKay, Ian Fleming and Kelly Spencer. 


25th Anniversary Projects


Ambassador Cards

To celebrate their 25th anniversary, OSAS commissioned noted equine artist Michelle Hogan to draw portraits of the four OSAS ambassadors: Hiltons Hot Stuff, Ruff Me Up, Reverend Hanover and The Painted Pony. Between them those four distinctive horses have introduced countless race fans to the beauty and versatility of Standardbreds through their appearances at Ontario tracks, participation in Meet and Greets with fans and the Drive With Us program. 

 

Michelle’s portraits are stunningly accurate depictions of the four unique horses and she added another brilliant touch. “I deliberately incorporated a theme of versatility. One is in harness, one under saddle, one in hand and one at liberty,” she explained.

 

These portraits have been incorporated into note cards which were printed at First Line Printing and the entire project was sponsored by Ontario Racing. The boxes of note cards are now available for sale. Each box contains eight note cards (two of each horse) and envelopes. Please see OSAS’s website for details on how to order. 


2021 Commemorative Logo

Kathryn Patchett, the talented graphic designer who created OSAS’s new logo and updated website recently, has tweaked the logo to reflect the 25th anniversary. That logo will be used on all of OSAS’s social media for the remainder of the year. Kathryn was also responsible for the design of the ambassador cards and the creation of ads for the OSAS Night at the Races.

 

OSAS at the Races

OSAS has reached out to every Ontario racetrack to request they host an OSAS night (or day) at the races to celebrate the 25th anniversary. It would be anchored by a race called the OSAS 25th anniversary race. With COVID protocols in place the celebrations will be restricted but still able to commemorate the significant milestone.


OSAS, with the assistance of the Central Ontario Standardbred Association, will be presenting the winning owner, trainer and groom of the OSAS Anniversary race with a cooler, ambassador cards and anniversary gear.


Celebrating Our Own

OSAS would not have survived through 25 years without many dedicated volunteers who assist in a wide variety of ways. Throughout the remainder of our 25th season, we will be releasing feature stories about these wonderful folks.


OSAS would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the first 25 years. One of the reasons OSAS has thrived is due to the tremendous support of the Standardbred industry and horse people in Ontario who recognize the importance of finding forever loving homes for our wonderful horses.

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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