Adios (January 3, 1940 – June 22, 1965) was a champion
harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait (a trot or a pace). They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, or spider, or chariot occupied by a driver. In Europe, and less frequently in Australi ...
sire
Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French.
The words "sire" a ...
.
The son of
Hal Dale and the mare
Adioo Volo, the
horse named Adios was born on January 3, 1940, at
Two Gaits Farm Two Gaits Farm is the name of a Standardbred (harness racing) horse farm that functioned from 1934-1973. It belonged to Leo C. McNamara, Sr. and at one time was internationally known as the largest standardbred pacer breeding farm in the country. T ...
, in
Carmel, Indiana. Trained and driven by
Frank Ervin
Frank or Franks may refer to:
People
* Frank (given name)
* Frank (surname)
* Franks (surname)
* Franks, a medieval Germanic people
* Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang
Curre ...
and for a while owned by
Harry Warner of
Warner Bros. film studio,
Adios was a multiple world champion during his racing career. His pacing record at the
Shelbyville, Indiana, 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
Delvin Glenn "Del" Miller (July 15, 1913 – August 19, 1996) was a driver, trainer and owner in the sport of harness racing as well as an important breeder after acquiring Adios to stand at his Meadow Lands Farm in Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania. D ...
, to stand in stud at his Meadow Lands farm near
Washington, Pennsylvania. 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 and
Bret Hanover both became winners of the
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers.
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 in
Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania
Meadowlands is a census-designated place in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The community is located in Chartiers Township, in central Washington County about north of the city of Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* ...
. Since the first
Delvin Miller Adios
Delvin () is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland; it is located on the N52 road at a junction with the N51 to Navan. The town is from Mullingar (along the N52).
The word Delvin comes from Delbhna. That tribe settled in what is present-da ...
in 1967, it has evolved into one of the important events in the harness racing season.
in
Coconut Creek, Florida, was named after the horse by his owner and club founder Delvin Miller. The course was designed in 1982 by fellow founder
Arnold Palmer.
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