The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society, in partnership with Tara Hills Stud, has added a new, colourful ambassador to its lineup. Hiltons Hot Stuff, a very unusually marked Standardbred, was unsuccessful as a racehorse, but should do well in her new roles.
As an OSAS ambassador, ‘Paris,’ as she’s known around the barn, will take part in the Drive With Us program at WEG, which offers fans a chance to ride around the racetrack behind a Standardbred, in addition to being one of the horses used in the very popular HOPE program, which is staged at the farm of OSAS administrator Joanne Colville. Paris will also serve as an ambassador for the Standardbred sport at a number of shows and competitions.
The seven-year-old mare, who is registered as a bay, was bred in England and exported to Canada in 2014. Her sire is Out Of Nowhere, whose father is the Falcon Seelster horse Million To One, who was campaigned on the WEG circuit by Joe Hudon and Harry Poulton.
Hiltons Hot Stuff then spent some time with Karin and Blair Burgess. “She is one of the kindest Standardbreds we ever had,” said Karin. “She was never in a bad mood or did anything wrong.” However, Paris wasn’t going to be a world beater on the racetrack, so the couple found her a home with OSAS and Tara Hills.
In addition to her responsibilities at OSAS, Hiltons Hot Stuff will be living up to her name at Tara Hills Stud, serving as a teaser for their stallions this upcoming breeding season. “She’s quickly become a farm favourite around here, she’s a sweetheart and is so dam pretty,” said Tara Hills’ owner, David Heffering. “She’s in the front paddock and really stands out against the snow. People driving by actually stop to look at her.
“She’s already attracted the attention of Royalty For Life, who is three paddocks away. He’s out there trying to talk to her. We’ve used paint mares from other breeds as teasers before and that’s always a good collection day. For some reason the stallions respond well to a mare like that, or a grey. She’ll have a good life here, and will be very popular.”
Paris won’t just be popular amongst the Tara Hill studs, which in addition to Royalty For Life include newcomers Crazed and Control The Moment, along with Hes Watching and Ontario leaders Mach Three, Kadabra, Sportswriter and Muscle Mass. She’ll be on display at events throughout the province in her OSAS role where she is sure to attract many more fans.
(OSAS)