Jul 24, 2024 By John Sacco 5 min read

When the three most recognizable names at The Meadows speak, it’s probably a good idea to at least listen.

The discussion about the Adios this year failing to attract the top 3-year-old pacers started last week when 15 horses entered the race without one being ranked in the weekly Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll, and none of the entries even receiving a vote.

The sport’s winningest driver (Dave Palone) and trainer (Ron Burke), along with long-time track announcer (Roger Huston) think a return to heat racing and reducing The Adios to one day might help attract more top-rated horses.

Currently, like most prestigious and significant harness races, The Adios has eliminations one week and the final the next.

Many owners and trainers don’t want to have their horses race multiple times in one day.

Only the Little Brown Jug employs the two-heat racing format in North America’s biggest stakes races.

Burke said he is a proponent of two-heat racing and doesn’t think it impacts horses that much.

“They’re capable of doing it,” Burke said. “If we took The Adios back to a one-day, two-heat (event) it could possibly bring in more of the top horses.

“Having to spend two weeks at a specific track because of eliminations one weekend and the final the next just crowds the schedule.”

Palone, who drove long-shot Washington VC to an Adios victory 25 years ago, advocates for two-heat racing.

“I like it and I think it makes the race more exciting,” Palone said. “I think it gives you a true champion. I know the newer owners and trainers don’t like heat racing and have their reasons. I’m old-school.”

Huston is a harness racing traditionalist.

“I’ve always been a promoter of two-heat racing,” Huston said. “Obviously, there weren’t as many stakes races back in the day as there are now.

“We face questions every year with the Jug. There are only so many weeks to do all of these. Certain stakes have lost horse (participation) because of having to be two weeks at one location. The owners have the right to pick where and when to race.

“The move to elimination races reduces the number of horses fans get to see. If we lost the fans …”

In fairness, two years ago, The Adios featured three of the best in Beach Glass, Pebble Beach and the eventual winner, Bythemissal. Last year, It’s My Show and Cannibal were two of the best 3-year-old pacers in North America and they entered.

“It’s a perplexing problem,” Huston added.

Adios Day scare

Twenty-two years ago, on Adios Day 2002, what could have been a major tragedy was avoided because of the employ of a skilled outrider and horse.

It was a tenuous and scary scene in the first division of The Adios that year.

The division was won by Monsoon Hall but was marred by an accident that involved local horse Michael’s Western and Meadows driver Mike Wilder, who was tossed out of the bike while the horse ran loose on the track in front of the old grandstand.

“I was coming off cover,” Wilder explained. “I was tipped out of the bike. I got right up and saw him. I was scared to death. Thank God Missy (Rothfuss) caught him.”

Wilder suffered a cut on his left leg but continued to drive the remainder of the card. He drove Michael’s Western, who won the Cleveland Classic as a 2-and 3-year-old.

Also injured in the accident, which happened high in the stretch of that race were Hogan Hylight, driven by Brett Miller and Hot Rum, with Jim Meittnis. Hogan Hylight went down but Miller remained in the bike, got the horse up and pacing. Hot Rum was disqualified for causing the accident.

Million Dollar Cam, driven by Hall of Famer John Campbell, won The Adios championship that day. It was Campbell’s seventh Adios title. He has the most Adios driving wins with eight.

Rothfuss caught the horse as it headed in the direction of Racetrack Road in front of the North Strabane Township track.

“So (Michael’s Western) went down head of the stretch,” Rothfuss explained. “I was on my new horse, Nehi, and Michael’s Western went to the right towards the grandstand, heading towards the kid’s area and The Adios Room. I came from behind and grabbed him and pulled him up over and the other side. It was a very easy catch but nerve wracking because it was Adios Day.”

If Rothfuss had not succeeded?

“Chances are the horse would have gone over the fence there into the grandstand because it goes into a blind spot. He was down in the drop off.”

While the only state in the country that requires outriders is Ohio, the potential to avoid further injuries to drivers and the horses by employing a skilled and experienced outrider improves dramatically.

“It’s a very unappreciative job that is expensive to do,” Rothfuss said. “It takes a special horse and a fearless, smart rider.”

Adios Pace draw

The following is the draw for The Adios Pace final Saturday afternoon (post position, driver and trainer): Noblesville (#1, Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., Ron Burke); Wish You Well (#2, David Miller, Nifty Norman); Outer Banks (#3, Tim Tetrick, Ron Burke); Captain Albano, (#4, Todd McCarthy, Noel Daley); Clever Cody (#5, Aaron Merriman, Ian Moore); Timeisonmyside (#6, Anthony MacDonald, Tim Twaddle); Sweet Beach Life (#7, Mark Kakaley, Travis Alexander); Nuclear (#8, Dexter Dunn, Sarah Andrews); Huntingforchrome (#9, James MacDonald, Travis Alexander.

Captain Albano was installed as the 2-1 favorite, followed by Wish You Well at 3-1; Clever Cody, 4-1; Huntingforchrome, 6-1; Sweet Beach Life at 10-1; Noblesville and Timeisonmyside, both at 12-1; and Outer Banks and Nuclear at 20-1.