The horsepeople and patrons of Kawartha Downs have long been supporters of the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society and this Saturday the Fraserville oval will host their Day at the Races in celebration of OSAS’s 25th anniversary.

Making the presentation to the winning connections on Saturday following the ninth race will be long time OSAS volunteer Sheila Jopling along with Lindsay Bax and Jason Woodward.

Sheila Jopling at Kawartha with OSAS’s most uniquely coloured ambassador, Hiltons Hot Stuff

Three years ago, when the backstretch kitchen at the track was closed, Sheila worked closely with the marketing department to provide food for the horsepeople, the proceeds of which went to OSAS as well as other charities.

“It was an initiative that benefitted everyone. The horsepeople received a variety of fresh, homemade food each week at a reasonable price while also supporting worthwhile causes,” explained Sheila, who worked on the initiative alongside Lindsay Bax, a member of the track’s marketing department at that time.

Joining Lindsay and Sheila to make the presentation will be Jason Woodward, a trainer/driver at Kawartha for many years who also serves as the back-up starter. Jason was an integral part of one of OSAS’s most heartwarming stories recently.

A few weeks before Christmas last year, Julie Morrison Kangas reached out to OSAS looking for a horse for her neighbour Glenn Cameron whose wife, Tara, was battling cancer. Tara had ridden in her youth and Glenn wanted her to have a horse in her life again.

Jason helped with the special Christmas gift by driving to Mohawk to pick up the horse, a mare named Foamy. “Even though he had been racing for two days down Mohawk way, he made yet another trip to pick Foamy up,” noted Julie at the time. Sadly Tara passed in May, but the last months of her life were enriched thanks to Foamy who has remained with her family.

Thanks to Sheila, Lindsay and Jason for making the presentation on OSAS’s behalf and best of luck to the participants in the race.

To view the entries for Saturday's card of harness racing at Kawartha Downs, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Kawartha Downs.

(OSAS)