SC Rewind: Remembering Adios Butler

In this week's Rewind Robert Smith recalls a great horse from many years ago by the name of Adios Butler. He was U.S.-owned, bred and raced for the most part,  but was so well known that Canadians who were around then will surely remember him. He also made a very famous appearance on Canadian soil as an aged performer. 

Sixty-five years ago, in 1959, the sport of harness racing in Canada and elsewhere was undergoing many changes. Horses were going faster, crowds were increasing in numbers,  and on occasion top U.S. horses came to race in Canada. It all added up to a great era in the sport.

Unofficially the "charge" was being led by a young horse named Adios Butler, affectionately referred to as The Butler.  He was sired by the absolute top stallion in captivity at the time, Adios, who literally owned the title  "The Biggest Daddy of them all,"  a title used by Sports Illustrated. Adios Butler was the ultimate performer in every aspect of what might be considered the perfect horse.

Adios Butler made a very famous visit to Montreal's Richelieu Park in 1961 which was the subject of a Rewind back in March of 2016 titled "Canada's Greatest Day."

Adios Butler, in rein to Eddie Cobb, glides to the wire in 1:58.2 with a huge Richelieu Park crowd looking on. Finishing second is Bye Bye Byrd (Clint Hodgins) with fourth-place finisher Tar Boy (Levi Harner) also in the picture. Out of camera range on the inside was third-place finisher Apmat with Billy Haughton in the sulky. [Hoof Beats]

Adios Butler is shown with his co-owner and forever trainer and sometimes driver Paige West 

Adios Butler and driver Eddie Cobb. In 1960 this horse was syndicated for a then record $600,000 but was kept on the track. A portion of the agreement stated that Paige West would continue as trainer and part owner and Eddie Cobb would be his driver. They went on to set numerous records and at the end of the 1961 season " The Butler" retired as the sport's fastest and richest performer. 

 In 1961 Adios Butler time trialled in 1:54.3 at Lexington with his long time trainer Paige West in the sulky and Eddie Cobb and Delvin Miller driving the two prompters. He even earned his own personalized lip tattoo for the performance.

Throughout his racing career Adios Butler was always the recipient of many visitors and well wishers wherever he travelled.His caretaker for most of his career was a fellow named Silvanus Henry. He is shown above welcoming a couple of young well wishers at Roosevelt Raceway as he offers a carrot to his star pupil.  

Adios Butler Wins Pace Of The Century - July 31, 1961 

Closing night of the summer meeting at Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island New York was a memorable event on Saturday July 31, 1961. A small but outstanding field of seven aged pacers faced the starter in the $25,000 event, named The Pace of The Century. The field included (in order of finish) Adios Butler, Apmat, Mr. Budlong, Tar Boy, Stephan Smith, Countess Adios and Bye Bye Byrd.

All eyes were on Adios Butler, then a five-year-old and at the time the toast of the harness racing world. Driven by Ohioan Eddie Cobb, the son of Adios had won eight straight coming into the race and with 32 career wins in just 45 lifetime starts, he was the third winningest horse (in earnings) in history trailing only Bye Bye Byrd who was also in this race and Tornese from Italy. At this time in history, top horses were not retired at age three but often went on to exciting careers as "aged" performers.

In 1959 as a three-year-old, Adios Butler was a sensation winning harness racing's Triple Crown, The Cane, Messenger and Little Brown Jug. What was most amazing about his sophomore campaign was that he accomplished so much in so little time. As a three year old, Adios Butler started just nine times, winning seven and finishing second twice. His season's earnings were just over $150,000. He was driven throughout this campaign by Clint Hodgins who obviously did quite a job. Adios Butler was owned by Paige West who later formed the Adios Butler Syndicate. West was also the trainer who on occasion  drove in races.

Many had hoped for a new Roosevelt track and world record on this occasion but rains earlier in the evening dashed those hopes. The current record of 1:57.4 for a half mile track was jointly held by Adios Butler and Bye Bye Byrd who was now a six-year-old and was slightly past his prime.

As the race unfolded, Apmat an eight-year-old Australian import grabbed the early lead taking the field to the quarter in :29.2. As the horses neared the half-mile station Cobb pulled his horse and marched to the lead reaching the half way marker in 1:01.1 and from there coasted home in a relatively slow 2:00.3, undoubtedly attributable to the slow track conditions. Apmat was second with Mr. Budlong taking the show spot.

Established as the prohibitive favourite at 1-5 Adios Butler drew a huge "investment" from the betting public as $158,085 was wagered on this event alone. Of that total,  $100,729 went on Adios Butler with almost $61,000 to win. His mutuel payoff of $2.30; $2.30; $2.20 was the second lowest in the track's long history, almost matching a 1944 win payout of $2.20 on a horse named Singapore.

At season's end Adios Butler closed his racing career by winning 13 of 14 starts, losing only his season's debut. He rang up another $180,250 giving him a career bankroll of nearly $510,000. During that season he took part in three time trials at Foxboro, Mass., Delaware, Ohio and Monticello, N.Y. On each try he bettered the track mark including a world record for a half mile track at Delaware when he was timed in 1:55.3. Great horses like this do not come along too often.

The huge crowd of 21,120 people were treated to a nostalgic touch during the evening when the great pacer Hi-Lo's Forbes was paraded past the stand in a cameo appearance. Back in 1953 this memorable horse paced an unbelievable mile in 1:58.3 over the old Roosevelt half miler for driver Henry Clukey. Many observers at the time believed that this mile time would not be eclipsed for many years, if at all. At the time of his record he was five years old and was then a spry 13 years of age when he appeared for this event. That same season of 1953, this horse started many times at Vernon and won on a number of occasions but took a record just a few ticks better at 1:58, despite the lightning fast Vernon oval.

Adios Butler was retired to the stud at the end of the 1961 season and stood for 22 years at Fair Chance Farm in Washington Court House, Ohio. It was his forever home.  Much like many before him, his career as a sire was somewhat below his own accomplishments. Critics placed a portion of the blame on the fact that he stood in Ohio which was then not considered a prime location. Adios Butler went out like a true champion winning his final lifetime start at Roosevelt with trainer Paige West in the sulky. West, who owned and trained this great horse throughout his career, truly loved him. 

Adios Butler was voted Harness Horse Of The Year on two occasions,  1960 and 1961. He was the first triple crown winner in 1959 and that year became the first Little Brown Jug winner in under 2:00 as he recorded a mile in 1:59 2/5 for driver Clint Hodgins.  

Adios Butler died in 1983 at the age of 27.

Quote For The Week: "It's so important to spend your free time with little people...Childhood is gone in the blink of an eye." - Alex Kingston 

Who Is It?  

This year the Ontario Sires Stakes program is observing their 50th anniversary (1974 - 2024). A precious few individuals that were around 50 years ago are still with us and above all still active in the sport. Pictured above are two young gents as they appeared in 1974. They are still "at it" and doing pretty well I might add. Name them if you can. 

Who Else Is It?  

Can you identify this trio?  I believe they were at a sale when a photographer caught this pose.