At Fort Erie Race Track, stories often begin with the thunder of hooves and end in the record books — but for one gelding, the most meaningful chapter started long after the crowds had gone quiet and the racing days were behind him.
It was through a chance social media post that Nicola Bowers and her daughter Abbey Fraser first came across Society Joe, a tall, kind-eyed bay gelding with an unusual feature that would have put many prospective homes off. For them, however, it did the opposite.
“I paused, looked at it, read it through, and said to Abbey, ‘Hey, how about a one-eyed horse?’” Bowers said. “I got a vibe from the pictures and the description, and she got that same feeling when she looked at him.”
What followed was a decision that would ultimately reshape their stable — and Fraser’s competitive plans — in the most unexpected way.
“It said his price was reduced,” Fraser recalled. “I think he had been waiting a while, and I felt really bad because I could tell he was a great guy, and he deserved a good home.”
Despite his distinctive appearance, the pair saw beyond it immediately. “I know a lot of people were scrolling away because of the one eye,” she added, “but to me that didn’t mean anything, because having one eye doesn’t mean he’s not as good as all the other horses.”
Before long, enquiries were made to Southern Belle Thoroughbreds about the son of Society’s Chairman–Jonjack, a horse whose story already carried a remarkable footnote. Known affectionately as the “One-Eyed Wonder Horse,” Society Joe had once defied expectations with a memorable victory in the 2024 Puss N Boots Cup Stakes at Fort Erie Race Track, a performance still spoken about with admiration.
When he arrived off the trailer into his new home, the gelding’s personality quickly matched the impression he had given from afar.
“He’s super sweet, he tries really hard, and he’s just a really great guy,” Fraser said. “He’s just a big puppy dog.”
Now settled into life away from the track, Society Joe has shown both intelligence and sensitivity in equal measure. Fraser has noticed how aware he is of everything around him.
“He likes to know what’s going on, and he likes to know where you are,” she explained. “If you’re grooming him and he can’t see you, he likes it when you talk to him so he knows you’re there.”
Even his early days in the barn revealed a curious personality — particularly when it came to food.
“One of his favourites are strawberry granola bars,” Fraser laughed. “When we first got him, he didn’t know what treats were, which was a bit sad, but now he’s super picky about them.”
In Society Joe, Fraser also sees echoes of a much-loved former horse, Salem, deepening the emotional bond she has formed with her new companion.
“I’ve noticed they have a lot of the same quirks,” she said. “The way they move is similar, they’re both bays, both geldings, and they even like unusual treats.”
For Bowers, the experience reinforces a philosophy they have carried through each of their retired racehorses: care comes first.
“Spoiling them is our number one thing,” she said. “It’s horse first, and what they can do second.”
Society Joe is now their third off-track thoroughbred, and his arrival has only strengthened their belief in giving former racehorses meaningful second careers. With natural athletic ability still very much evident, Fraser already sees a future beyond leisure riding.
“He’s got the classic Hunter movement and jump,” Bowers noted. “That’s where they’re headed one day.”
Fraser agrees, already watching his transformation with excitement. “He’s gotten a bit flatter in his movement in the right way, like a proper Hunter should. And when he jumps, his technique is amazing.”
The pair also have long-term ambitions, including competing at the Royal Horse Show as part of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair under his new show name — “Cookie Monster.”
The name, Fraser explained, came from a mix of creativity and personal connection. “I bake cookies for my baking business, so I thought of ‘Cookie.’ And it also fits his missing eye — like a missing chocolate chip.”
It’s a name that reflects both affection and humour, much like the relationship they’ve built with the gelding they now visit several times a week.
Society Joe, once a racecourse competitor, now spends his days in a quieter rhythm, thriving in a home where his past is respected but not defined by limits.
“He just means a lot to me,” Fraser said. “He’s the first horse I’ve owned and worked with properly. He’s worth it.”
Word count and structure carefully shaped, the gelding’s journey from Fort Erie to a second career stands as a reminder that every horse has more than one chapter waiting to be written.
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