TORONTO, October 15, 2025 – Twice a month, Woodbine Mohawk Park will profile a Standardbred connected to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS). 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. The program, 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. The first installment belongs to Beach Bet, an unraced 5-year-old bay currently in training with Bert and Susan Mollica, who train the majority of OSAS horses at their farm in Tottenham, Ontario. Susan, who will play a recurring role in this series, spoke about the horse she described as adventuresome and curious as he embarks on his next chapter. Fun fact #1: Beach Bet’s second dam [Myrtle Beach] is a sister to Somebeachsomewhere. Fun fact #2: Beach Bet’s barn name is Buster. Beach Bet (ON) Foaled: February 9, 2020 Sire: All Bets Off Dam: Beach Goddess Trainers: Susan and Bert Mollica Owner: Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society Breeder: Douglas Millard OSAS Program Status: In training How would you describe the personality of Beach Bet? “He’s best described as a young horse – and comparable to Dennis the Menace. He’s always busy. If anything’s going on, he likes to be either involved in it or watching it. “The horses are loose on our farm at different times because I want them to not be afraid of anything, and free, so to speak. Little Buster would be busy emptying out the groom box, he’ll be fixing the saddle pad on another horse when Bert’s trying to tack the horse. He’s not afraid of things. He wants to be more involved. If Bert does stuff with him, he looks at him as if to say, ‘Oh, I’m not done yet. Let’s keep going.’ “He has more energy than we do. We call him our busy little boy.” Talk about your favourite memory or memories during your time with Beach Bet. “Our best memory of Buster is when Bert started training him to be a riding horse. Buster loved to put everything in his mouth. We start all the OSAS horses with a hackamore instead of a bit – well, Buster kept putting the metal shanks on the mechanical hackamore in his mouth and playing with it. “So, Bert thought, ‘Okay, let’s try a bit since he likes things in his mouth.’ Well, that was even worse. Buster was just busy playing with the bit rather than listening to what Bert was trying to teach him, so Bert said to him, ‘Since you’re too busy playing with everything in and near your mouth, we are going to start you with a bitless bridle.’ “That is what Bert used to start and train Buster with to be a riding horse. He learned his new second career with a bitless bridle and can do trail rides and all the Xtreme Obstacles.” What type of home or calling do you see as a perfect fit for Beach Bet? “I’d say with someone that’s continuously riding. He’s not one to go somewhere where they go out and ride him a couple times a year. He won’t like that at all. “He would be happy if somebody was to play with him, ride him, just have fun, and give him attention every day. Some prefer to be left alone so they can graze, but Buster prefers to be the one that’s out doing everything. He will get bored if you repeat, repeat, repeat, but if you go and take him for a ride and then go do something, he’s in his element. “For example, we have an Xtreme Cowboy area at our farm where we do all the obstacles – my husband teaches the horses how to do them. Buster loves going over there. He’ll go for a ride all over the farm, like ‘Let’s keep going.’ Bert will say, ‘Okay, you’re done. I got to do the next one’ and Buster will look at him like, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no. Do me first.’ “Everything’s new, everything’s exciting, everything’s an adventure for Buster.” 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 Share This:Share
