Longtime fan favourite Ruff Me Up is one of several horses recently adopted through the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS) program.

Very easy to identify due to his distinctive grey colour, ‘Ruffy’ served as an OSAS ambassador for several years.

The now 17-year-old gelding was a Meet & Greet horse at Woodbine Mohawk Park on many occasions, and fans loved having their photo taken with him. He was also part of OSAS’s very popular Drive With Us program, and provided Woodbine Entertainment president Jessica Buckley a ride in a Santa Claus parade in Campbellville, Ont., in 2018 and 2019.

Ruff Me Up is a son of Real Artist from the Laag mare April Ruffles who joined OSAS in May of 2017. Just a few weeks later, he was featured on The Morning Show on Global TV as part of a feature done by host Liem Vu, who rode with driver Jody Jamieson around Mohawk with Ruff Me Up providing the horse power.

After selling for $61,000 as a yearling, Ruff Me Up made 116 career starts as a racehorse and earned nearly $250,000 in purses while competing at racetracks across North America. He began his career in the Steve Elliott barn and competed in many top stakes events as a youngster including the 2007 Little Brown Jug, where he finished eighth in his elimination behind eventual winner Tell All.

In addition to Ruff Me Up, who was adopted by Bev Rice of Barrie, Ont., OSAS also recently found forever homes for Chelemark Brennan, Sleek Hunter and Distinctiv Dreamer.

(OSAS)