Jul 18, 2025 4 min read

By John Sacco

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

Twenty-nine years ago, a local horse, trainer, driver and owner changed The Adios Pace.

Delvin Miller’s race.

Barberry Spur became the first local horse to win The Meadows’ signature race.

Richard Stillings was the driver, Buddy Stillings teamed with his brother to train the horse and the late Roy Davis was the owner.

It set off a massive celebration in the winner’s circle and across Western Pennsylvania. The Adios was changed forever. Locals now had hope.

The doors were open for others.

Drivers Dan Ross and Dave Palone walked in, earning driving wins in finals with Legacy of Power and Washington VC, respectively. The late Mickey Burke trained an Adios winner in 2007 (May June Character) and his son Ron Burke trained Dorsoduro Hanover in 2018. The Burke Racing Stable was co-owner of the horse. And Burke trained Bythemissal, who won the 2022 Adios.The Burke Stable again was co-owner.

Barberry Spur opened the door.

“You know It was the first, and anytime it’s the first of something, people remember it,” said Hall of Fame announcer Roger Huston. “Dickie was such a beloved driver at the Meadows and Roy Davis was at the forefront of not just in harness racing, but in business in Washington County. I think they helped make it all come together.

“You have to remember, The Adios was one of the first major stake races for 3-year-old pacers. Finally, local people won the race. It drew the fan base together by somebody they could support, not only winning The Adios, but going on to national fame.”

Palone said Barberry’s Spur’s Adios win, changed the perceptions of fans and followers.

“It gave everybody around here the feeling that you know this can happen for one of us,” Palone said. “That was big. Everyone knows what I think of Dickie. I think he’s the greatest all-around horseman, trainer/driver I’ve ever seen.

Winning The Adios as a local horse or being part of the horse’s connections is an exclusive group and that’s pretty cool. It’s amazing that almost 40 years later, there’s still only a few. I’m proud to be part of that.”

The hope of winning The Adios will be on the minds of many local horsemen today at The Meadows.

While the two Adios Pace elimination races are the main two races, literally some of the first steps toward next year’s Adios will be made during two divisions of the “Roy Davis” 2-year-old colt and gelding pace.

One of those horses, Western Raptor is a home bred. He is trained by Norm Parker. He is out of Wild Wild Western and Kitty Kitty Hawk. He is owned by Andrew J. Altobelli of Dover.

He is two-for-two. He had a 1:52.4 mark and has pocketed more than $19,009. Western Raptor will leave from the No. 4 post in the fifth race in a six-horse field. Mike Wilder will drive Western Raptor.

“For any trainer or owner who has young horses at The Meadows, racing in The Adios is the ultimate thrill,” Parker said. “Trying to get a horse good enough is the goal.

“I have been lucky enough to race in it four times but still looking for that special horse. Each year you hope. Western Raptor has started his career out in a nice way but it’s a long way to the 3-year- old races. Him being sired by my horse Wild Wild Western, who raced in Adios and then was a top Open pacer here for many years makes it more exciting. There are lots of nice colts out there and we just hope ours keeps continuing to race well. If he gets good enough to race in stakes next year, obviously The Adios is the one we always want to be in.”

Down the stretch

The top four finishers in today’s two Adios Pace division and the fifth-place finisher with the highest lifetime earnings will compete in the Grade 1, $385,000 Adios final next Saturday.

The eliminations will be races 9 and 10 on today’s card. Post time is 12:45 p.m.