Racing Buddies Together Again In Retirement

September 8, 2022

Pacers Weatherly and Frightful Watch had vastly different racing careers while they were stablemates in Julie Walker’s barn as one was an iron horse and the other barely started. One fact they do have in common is that they both were retired in 2021 and entrusted to the care of the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.


In a unique co-incidence, the buddies were reunited in retirement as Brooke Luke of Lynden, Ontario, adopted Frightful Watch (now known as Kevin) in early 2021 and a few months later adopted Weatherly (now called Wes). She had no idea at the time they were former stablemates. 


“My friend told me (they had both been in Julie’s barn) shortly after we got Wes,” Brooke explained. “She saw Julie at the races and they were chatting, I guess the boys were turnout buddies and it was clear they remembered each other. Their introduction at my place was very uneventful and they almost immediately started grooming each other.”


“Weatherly and Frightful Watch had the same owner, they came to me together and they were buddies while in training,” Julie explained. “Both were totally different horses in sense of their career. Weatherly was a true war horse, tough as nails and the owners were ready to retire him. Frightful Watch just never had the ability on the racetrack.”


Their talents on the track may have been vastly different, but their personalities are similar as both have gentle, kind demeanours, especially when they are with Brooke’s young children, five-year-old son Brayden and two-year-old daughter Makenna.


“They’ve truly surpassed any expectations I had when adopting them,” said Brooke. “They just seem to know that Brayden and Makenna are ‘their kids’ and act so quietly around them.”


Earlier this year Brooke posted photos of her children aboard one of the geldings with the note: “Kevin (Frightful Watch) demonstrating what a true saint he is. There aren’t many five-year-old horses who are level headed enough to be pulled from the paddock after four weeks and tolerate 40 minutes of pony rides. Best horse ever.”


“I am not surprised by how good they are with kids because they were very kind horses,” said Julie who was surprised and delighted when she found out the geldings were both adopted by the Luke family.


Julie was the third and final trainer for Weatherly, an 11 year-old gelding by Dali who made a total of 144 starts, amassing $212,064 during his career. He started his career under the guidance of noted trainer Murray Brethour and remained in that Sunderland, Ontario, based barn from his two-year-old season in 2013 through his seven-year-old season in 2018.


He moved to Chad Milner’s stable for a year and Julie was his trainer of note for his last two seasons on the track. His final start was in September of last year. During his time in Julie’s barn, in addition to being a consistent racehorse, Weatherly also served as a teacher for both humans and fellow equines.


“He taught so many young grooms that came into my barn how to train and jog. We always said he taught the young horses how to behave at the track. Weatherly lost his eye when he was three or four and adapted to everything he was asked to do,” Julie added.


Frightful Watch’s tenure at the track wasn’t nearly as long but the son of Hes Watching had another connection to OSAS long before he was entered into the program. His dam, the Artsplace daughter Dianes Place, started her career in the stable of Hall of Famer Bill O’Donnell, who sits on the OSAS board of directors.


Unlike his dam who enjoyed a long career (165 starts), Frightful Watch made a total of two official trips behind the starting gate before his shoes were pulled, but the five-year-old son is proving to be talented in other disciplines.


“They are super talented boys,” compliments Brooke. “I ride primarily dressage but have started jumping Kevin also.” She showed Kevin for the first time at the Standardbred Showcase on July 31 and he did exceptionally well. 


“I am so proud of Kevin,” she noted afterwards. “He had his first show today at the Standardbred Showcase and he could not have been better. We had a very fun and successful day. Some of the highlights we achieved: high point English, high point overall and completing our first over fence class as a last minute add on.”


Weatherly has also been impressing his new owner. In early September she reported: “I haven’t had time to ride him regularly but am looking forward to changing that for the fall. Despite the long stretches between rides, this guy tries so hard. 


“Today when we rode he willingly stretched out and lowered his head both ways. This is a huge accomplishment especially going to the left, as he is missing his right eye so he prefers to hold his head up and looking around. When he relaxes and rounds up, it’s a great feeling knowing he has trust in me as his rider.”


The OSAS graduates aren’t Brooke’s first exposure to Standardbreds. “My best friend, Natalie Graham, has been heavily involved in the racing industry her entire life, her dad raced, and they set me up with my first Standardbred about 10 years ago,” she remembered.  


“I had always owned, ridden and shown other breeds and foolishly I fell into the category of having a bias against Standardbreds as riding horses thanks to some coaching influence. My first Standardbred changed all of that, I did everything with him and was never disappointed. 


“When we started our family I had to take a break from horses and riding but knew when it was time again my next horse would be a Standardbred. I submitted an application to OSAS in early 2021 and by July it was my turn on the waitlist.”


Brooke had fallen in love with Frightful Watch’s photo and went to meet him at Mac Stables, one of OSAS’s foster farms owned by Susan and Bert Mollica. After adopting Frightful Watch she asked the Mollicas to keep an eye out for another horse who would also be quiet for the kids to work around “and Wes came along a few months later,” she concluded.


One of OSAS’s mandates is to highlight the versatility and kindness of the Standardbred breed. It would be accurate to report that Frightful Watch and Weatherly are certainly doing their part.

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.
Show More