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, spider, or chariot occupied by a driver. In Europe, and less frequently in Australia ...
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" an ...
.
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 mi ...
named Adios was born on January 3, 1940, at
Two Gaits Farm, in
Carmel, Indiana
Carmel () is a suburban city in Hamilton County, Indiana, United States, immediately north of Indianapolis. With a population of 99,757 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city spans across Clay Township, Hamilton County, Indi ...
. 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 y ...
of
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...
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 Un ...
, 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, also known as Little Washington to distinguish it from the District of Columbia, is a city in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. The population was 13,176 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 censu ...
. 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 fi ...
both became winners of the
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
The Pacing Triple Crown is a series of three major harness races for three-year-old Standardbred pacers. It consists of the Cane Pace, the Messenger Stakes, and the Little Brown Jug. It was inaugurated in 1956, one year after the Trotting Tri ...
.
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
The Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, formerly The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, originally (1963) just The Meadows horse-racing track, is a Standardbred Horse, Standardbred harness racing, harness-racing Racetrack, track and slot-machine casino ...
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.
Adios Golf Club in
Coconut Creek, Florida
Coconut Creek is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. Situated north of Miami, it had an estimated population of 57,348 in 2022. It is part of South Florida's Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area. The city seceded from Pompano Beach ...
, 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. Since embarking on a professional career in ...
.
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.
Sire line tree
*Adios
**
Adios Harry
**
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 ...
**Dancer Hanover
***
Romeo Hanover
**Henry T Adios
***Silent Majority
****
Abercrombie
Abercrombie may refer to:
People
* Abercrombie Lawson (1870–1927), botanist and professor
* Abercrombie (surname) (list of people with the family name Abercrombie)
Places
Antarctica
* Abercrombie Crests, rock summits in Antarctica
Australia ...
*****
Artsplace
**
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 fi ...
Harness Racing Museum: Bret Hanover
/ref>
***Strike Out
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safel ...
****Hot Hitter
Hot Hitter (foaled 1976), a bay Standardbred Champion racehorse, won two of the Pacing Triple Crown races in 1979 while on his way to setting a single-season earnings record of $826,542 for a harness horse.
Purchased as a yearling by trainer Lo ...
***Warm Breeze
****Falcon Seelster
***** Shady Character
References
Bibliography
* {{Cite book , last=Hill , first=Marie , url=https://archive.org/details/adiosbigdaddyofh00hill , title=Adios: The Big Daddy of Harness Racing , date=1971 , publisher=Arco , isbn=0-498-07792-6 , location=New York , oclc=136788 , ref=Hill , url-access=registration
External links
Register of Standardbred Stallions
The Greatest Sires
1962 Sports Illustrated Feature
1940 racehorse births
1965 racehorse deaths
American Standardbred racehorses
Harness racing in the United States
United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame inductees