Adios (January 3, 1940 – June 22, 1965) was a champion
harness racing sire.
The son of
Hal Dale and the mare
Adioo Volo, the
horse
The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million yea ...
named Adios was born on January 3, 1940, at
Two Gaits Farm, in
Carmel, Indiana
Carmel is a suburban city in Indiana immediately north of Indianapolis. With a population of 100,777, the city spans across Clay Township in Hamilton County, Indiana, and is bordered by the White River to the east; the Hamilton-Boone county l ...
. Trained and driven by
Frank Ervin and for a while owned by
Harry Warner
Harry Morris Warner (born Hirsz Mojżesz Wonsal; December 12, 1881 – July 25, 1958) was an American studio executive, one of the founders of Warner Bros., and a major contributor to the development of the film industry. Along with his three ...
of
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...
film studio,
Adios was a multiple world champion during his racing career. His pacing record at the
Shelbyville, Indiana
Shelbyville is a city in Addison Township, Shelby County, in the U.S. state of Indiana and is the county seat. The population was 20,067 as of the 2020 census.
History
In 1818, the land that would become Shelbyville was ceded to the U ...
, fair stood for 43 years. Despite his racing success, he is most famous for his offspring, which included
Adios Harry.
In 1948 Adios was bought by harness racing driver,
Delvin Miller, to stand in stud at his Meadow Lands farm near
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania. A part of the Greater Pittsburgh area in the southwestern part of the state, the city is home to Washington & Jefferson College and Pony League baseball. The populat ...
. The horse proved to be a tremendous stud, considered by many to be the greatest in harness racing history. He sired eight
Little Brown Jug winners,
more than any other horse, and his sons,
Adios Butler
The horse Adios Butler, also known as "The Butler" (1956–1983), was a North American harness racing champion.
Background
Sired by the great Standardbred Adios and out of an obscure broodmare named Debby Hanover, Adios Butler was trained by ...
and
Bret Hanover
Bret Hanover (May 19, 1962 – November 21, 1992) was an outstanding American Standardbred racehorse. He was one of only nine pacers to win harness racing's Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers and won 62 of 68 starts. He was the firs ...
both became winners of the
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers The Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers consists of these horse races:
# Cane Pace, held at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey
#Messenger Stakes, held at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York
# Little Brown Jug, held at ...
.
Adios sired 589 offspring in total.
Adios died on June 22, 1965.
The horse was buried at Meadow Lands farm under his favorite apple tree near the paddock that had been his home for seventeen years.
His name is synonymous with horse racing and can be found on consumer products and harness horse equipment.
A race was named for him, held each year on the second Saturday in August at
The Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, originally The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, is a Standardbred harness-racing track and slot-machine casino in North Strabane Township, Pennsylvania, United States, about southwest of Pittsburgh. It is owned by ...
in
Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania. Since the first
Delvin Miller Adios in 1967, it has evolved into one of the important events in the harness racing season.
in
Coconut Creek, Florida
Coconut Creek is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. Situated north of Miami, it had a population of 57,833 in 2020. It is part of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city seceded from ...
, was named after the horse by his owner and club founder Delvin Miller. The course was designed in 1982 by fellow founder
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer (September 10, 1929 – September 25, 2016) was an American professional golfer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the sport's history. Dating back to 1955, he won numerous ev ...
.
Two Gaits Farm in Carmel, Indiana, where Adios was foaled, was purchased in 2011 by Jeffrey and Beth Weisgerber. Adios Pass, a nearby street, is named after the sulky champion.
References
Bibliography
* {{Cite book , last=Hill , first=Marie , url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/136788 , title=Adios: The Big Daddy of Harness Racing , date=1971 , publisher=Arco , isbn=0-498-07792-6 , location=New York , oclc=136788 , ref=Hill
External links
Register of Standardbred StallionsThe Greatest Sires1962 Sports Illustrated Feature
American Standardbred racehorses
Harness racing in the United States
United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductees