The Canadian Cowgirls Precision Drill Team, which includes a retired Standardbred as one of their featured performers, have announced their schedule for the 2024 season. Team members include retired trotter 'Bugsy' and his rider Jamie Drew. Drew's family adopted Bugsy, then known as Masseno, from the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society in 2020 and he has quickly adapted from racehorse to a valued member of the drill team. 

Now seven, 'Bugsy' is a son of Muscle Mass who had a brief racing career (four starts, two seconds and one third) as a three-year-old before being retired. His full brother, Nzuri, enjoyed success last year as a two-year-old, earning just under $50,000 from seven starts which included two Ontario Sires Stakes victories.

The geldings hail from a celebrated Canadian trotting family. Their dam, Tomorrows Dream (owned by Julie and Paul Walker), is a daughter of O’Brien Award winner Mombasa who in turn is the dam of O’Brien winner Filly At Bigs. The third dam is another O’Brien victor, Mygal Haw Lea, the dam of Bridger, a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

In a previous feature story on Drew and Bugsy, Drew noted how people are quite surprised to learn that her mount is a harness horse. The pair is a shining example of OSAS’s mandate to promote the incredible versatility of the Standardbred horse.

Here are the 2024 dates for the Canadian Cowgirls:

• May 25-26 - Grey Highlands Ram Rodeo*
• June 8-9 - Headwaters Ram Rodeo*
• June 22-23 - Polo For Heart*
• July 13-14 - Breyerfest (Kentucky)*
• July 13-14 - Brigden Ram Rodeo
• July 20-21 - Erin Ram Rodeo*
• July 27-28 - Rockton Ram Rodeo
• Aug. 3-5 - Stevensville Ram Rodeo
• Aug. 9-11 - Comber Fair*
• Aug. 10-11 - Exeter Rodeo
• Aug.17 - Petrolia Parade
• Aug. 24-25 - Purple Hill Ram Rodeo*
• Aug. 31-Sept. 1 - Tweed Stampede*
• Sept. 14-15 - Binbrook Ram Rodeo
• Oct. 1-5 - International Plowing Match (Lindsay)
• Oct. 18-20 - Ancaster Ram Rodeo Finals*
• November - Royal Winter Fair*

*Indicates events where Jamie Drew and Bugsy will be performing.

(OSAS)