Longtime horseman Joe Adamsky, 80, passed away on Dec. 31, 2016, at his home in Rochester, Michigan.

Adamsky was one of the top drivers in Ohio during the 1980s and 1990s. For his career he posted 2,707 victories and more than $11.42 million in purses.

In 1984, he handled Happy Alche who was named Ohio’s two-year-old pacer of the year. But Happy Alche wasn’t the only one receiving awards; Adamsky received the Achievement award from the Ohio chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers’ Association.

Adamsky’s success continued into the 1985 season, when one of his top performers was Phantom Falcon. He guided Phantom Falcon to a then all age track record of 1:53.3 at Scioto Downs. That 1:53.3 trip earned Phantom Falcon the 1985 national season’s record for four-year-old stallions on a five-eighths-mile track.

The 1988 season was also a successful year for Adamsky on the Ohio Sire Stakes circuit. The freshman pacing colt Baker King earned almost $80,000 and was the top point earner in the Ohio Sire Stakes with four wins in five preliminary starts and finished second to Raque Bogart in the final. He also campaigned the trotter Kernel Moe that year and the colt earned more than $50,000 with wins in the Ohio State Trot and the Ohio Breeders Championship. The performances of these two horses were instrumental in earning Mr. Adamsky the first Jerry Kaltenbach Trophy, awarded to the top driver in the Ohio Sire Stakes series.

Adamsky’s top horse in the 1990s was the hard knocking pacing gelding Majestic Osborne. As a freshman in 1991, Majestic Osborne set a world record of 1:55.2 in an Ohio Sire Stakes event at Scioto Downs, and a national season’s record of 1:56.1 in the OSS final at Northfield Park. He went on to divisional honors in the state of Ohio. Majestic Osborne came back in 1992 to enjoy a successful three-year-old campaign. He won nine of 15 starts and earned $141,744. He also captured the $100,000 Ohio Sires Stakes final in 1:53.4 at Northfield Park. As a four-year-old in 1993 the gritty campaigner posted 11 victories in 20 starts, with a bankroll of $124,438. He won yet another Ohio Sires Stakes title, taking the $80,000 championship for four- and five-year-olds in 1:56.2 at Lebanon Raceway. He also put his name in the record books again, scoring in 1:52.3 in an Invitational Pace at Northfield, establishing an all age world mark for a gelding on a half-mile track. The 1994 season saw Majestic Osborne win six times in 18 starts, with earnings of $74,840. He also became the first horse in the history of the Ohio Sires Stakes program to win four championships when he captured the $80,000 final for four- and five-year-olds in 1:53.4 at Scioto Downs. As a six-year-old in 1995, Majestic Osborne made nine trips to the winner’s circle and his season’s earnings of $67,790 took him over the $500,000 plateau in lifetime money. Adamsky piloted him to a 1:56.2 triumph in the $66,150 Scarlet & Gray final at Northfield.

A complete obituary and arrangements will be posted when available.

UPDATE: The service will be a graveside service for family on Wednesday, January 4. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Christian Harness Horsemen’s Association or the New Vocations Adoption program.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Joe Adamsky.

(with files from USTA)