OSAS Pathways: Tymal Tarot

TORONTO, November 10, 2026 – Twice a month, Woodbine Mohawk Park will profile a Standardbred connected to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS).

This week’s installment belongs to recently retired trotter Tymal Tarot, whose charm and kind disposition have earned him admirers at every stop along the way.

After hanging up the horseshoes last fall, Tymal Tarot, known affectionately as “Brownie,” was brought to the Tottenham, Ontario, farm of Bert and Susan Mollica by respected Ontario horseman Rod Hughes this past August.

While Hughes had brought other horses to the Mollicas before, his connection with Brownie was particularly evident.

“There was a very tight bond, and he was very well loved,” said Susan.

Hughes made that abundantly clear in his own words.

“Brownie has always been one of the kindest horses I have had,” he said. “He’s a perfect family horse, great with the kids, and always gave 100 per cent on the track. He’s always a barn favourite, and it makes us happy knowing he will be loved by his new family. Thank you to OSAS for being there for all the horses like Brownie. He deserves the best.”

The best is exactly what Brownie will get from his new family, Hugh Pearson and Susan Jenkins.

“They came in September. Hugh rode Brownie, fell in love with him, and they adopted him,” told Susan.

Set to move into his new home in the coming weeks, Brownie’s second chapter is primed to be one of happiness, comfort and new adventures.

Susan Mollica and Pearson share more about what exactly that will entail below.

Fun fact #1: Tymal Tarot’s barn name is Brownie.

Fun fact #2: Tymal Tarot made 81 starts before retiring from racing last autumn. He earned over $88,000 in total purses while competing around the Ontario circuit, with the majority of his starts coming at Mohawk.

Fun fact #3: His dam, J M Aggie, is a daughter of Angus Hall who earned more than $320,000 during her 32-start racing career. She earned more $131,000 in the Ontario Sires Stakes as both a two and three-year-old.

Tymal Tarot (ON)

Foaled: March 5, 2017

Sire: Kadabra

Dam: J M Aggie

Trainer: Rod Hughes

Owner: Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society

Breeder: Tymal Farms

OSAS Program Status: Recently Adopted

What were your first impressions of Brownie? What have you come to learn about him?

“Brownie was easy as ever,” said Mollica.” He’s like a big giant teddy bear. He really is. He’s a big boy – big-boned, stocky but never a bad moment from him.

“Susan, the woman who adopted him, had said, “I need one that’s a husband horse in the sense that he’s really calm, laid-back and quiet.” When Brownie came in, I knew he would be a good fit for them.

“Some come in and they have a really quiet, gentle personality and you know it’s going to suit a family. That’s Brownie.”

What was Bert’s focus with Brownie’s training?

“His training was very easy to start,” explained Mollica. “The riding aspect was almost instant, it didn’t involve a lot of groundwork, just because of the history of the handling he had had.

“Now, Bert rides all Western with the hackamore but Susan and Hugh ride English, so we’ve been retraining him with a bit. They like to play with the bit – it’s like they have a lollipop in their mouth – but he’s settled right into following commands with the bit.

“I have English saddles, but I don’t have a girth that’s big enough for his tummy, so Bert is sticking to the Western saddle. At the end of the day, a saddle is a saddle in the sense that it goes around the horse, and you sit on it. Brownie’s handled that very well, and the good thing is, Susan and Hugh have a coach that’s going to come to the farm and work with Brownie and them. It’s an added bonus.”

What excites you most about his future and what awaits him?

“The family that’s adopting him are going to be riding their two horses together on their own property. He’s going to a home where mom and dad live right there with him, so it’s constant love and affection,” said Mollica.

“He’s also going to have a new brother, along with mom and dad right there to love and care for him every day.

“For this couple to go riding together in their retirement is a dream come true for a lot of people. Hugh is a beginner rider, but he rode Brownie when he came here, and even though the equipment didn’t fit him properly, he rode Brownie no problem.

“Brownie was like, ‘Okay, you’re new. I’m going to be very careful with you.’ You could see the horse’s personality adjusting to the rider. He’s a big, handsome teddy bear.”

A thought from Hugh Pearson on his first encounter with Brownie and the journey to come:

“My first impression of Brownie was that he was a gentle giant. In the barn, he willingly picked up his feet for me when I asked him to,” said Pearson.

“After walking Brownie in the sand ring, Bert asked if I wanted to get on him for a ride. I agreed but asked if they had a mounting block for me to use. Brownie had never seen a mounting block and was initially very suspicious of it, but after 10 minutes or so of letting Brownie see it, and having Bert get on it and put weight on the stirrup, Brownie accepted having Bert get on him from the mounting block, standing still and steady for him.

“My turn was next, and getting on from the mounting block was not an issue,” he continued. “With Bert walking beside Brownie’s head, I rode a number of times around the ring. Brownie kept a steady pace and was responsive to my direction to slow a bit when he seemed to want to be more forward. After my ride I was told that this was only the fifth time that anyone had ridden Brownie.

“He showed himself to be a smart, friendly horse who was willing to trust a new rider and cope with a new situation in a calm and confident manner. He seems to be smart, gentle and willing, and I look forward to being able to spend time with him and get to know him better.”

Founded in 1996, OSAS is an approved charitable organization committed to assisting in the adoption and relocation of retired and non-racing Standardbred horses within Ontario. A primary mandate of the program is to showcase the versatility of the breed to horse lovers unfamiliar with harness horses.

OSAS, which strives to educate and assist in the retraining and management of Standardbreds, relies heavily on volunteers and temporary foster homes to carry out its mission.

Those interested in getting involved with OSAS and its cause can reach out at osashorses@gmail.com or call 905-339-6748 for more information.

Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Mohawk Park