Paleface Adios (1969 - 1989) was an
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n
harness racingHarness racing is a form of horse-racing in which the horses race in a specified gait. They usually pull two-wheeled carts called sulkies, although races to saddle are still occasionally conducted, especially in Europe....
horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, (from a 2YO until he was retired as an 11YO) at a time when there was top competition from the likes of the "Bathurst Bulldog" (
Hondo GrattanHondo Grattan was a pacer from Bathurst, New South Wales known as the "Bathurst Bulldog". Hondo Grattan was a winner at a time of top competition, including Pure Steel and Paleface Adios. He won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship in both 1973 and 1974, becoming the first horse to successfully...
, "Robbers" (
RobalanRobalan was a champion New Zealand pacer standardbred horse, known as "Robbers". He is notable in that he won two NZ Trotting Cup races, the richest harness race in New Zealand, for his epic contests with champion pacer Young Quinn who he more than often beat and is particularly well remembered for...
) and "Steelo" (
Pure SteelPure Steel is an Australian Harness racing horse foaled in 1971. Affectionately known as Steelo, he raced from 1974 until 1983 and won just under $1 million, at a time when competition was strong, with the great horses Paleface Adios and Hondo Grattan as competitors. During his career, he won many...
).
Paleface Adios was foaled on 1 November 1969, at
TemoraTemora may refer to:* Temora, New South Wales, a town in Australia* Temora , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, NSW and was by Deep Adios out of Rayjen.
Paleface Adios (1969 - 1989) was an
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
n
harness racingHarness racing is a form of horse-racing in which the horses race in a specified gait. They usually pull two-wheeled carts called sulkies, although races to saddle are still occasionally conducted, especially in Europe....
horse which competed as a pacer throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. He raced from 1972 to 1981, (from a 2YO until he was retired as an 11YO) at a time when there was top competition from the likes of the "Bathurst Bulldog" (
Hondo GrattanHondo Grattan was a pacer from Bathurst, New South Wales known as the "Bathurst Bulldog". Hondo Grattan was a winner at a time of top competition, including Pure Steel and Paleface Adios. He won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship in both 1973 and 1974, becoming the first horse to successfully...
, "Robbers" (
RobalanRobalan was a champion New Zealand pacer standardbred horse, known as "Robbers". He is notable in that he won two NZ Trotting Cup races, the richest harness race in New Zealand, for his epic contests with champion pacer Young Quinn who he more than often beat and is particularly well remembered for...
) and "Steelo" (
Pure SteelPure Steel is an Australian Harness racing horse foaled in 1971. Affectionately known as Steelo, he raced from 1974 until 1983 and won just under $1 million, at a time when competition was strong, with the great horses Paleface Adios and Hondo Grattan as competitors. During his career, he won many...
).
Paleface Adios was foaled on 1 November 1969, at
TemoraTemora may refer to:* Temora, New South Wales, a town in Australia* Temora , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, NSW and was by Deep Adios out of Rayjen. He was trained and driven throughout his career by Colin Pike, and was owned by Colin's wife, Shirley Pike.
He was a standardbred racehorse of a chestnut colour with a white blaze and feet, and a golden mane. He was nicknamed
The Temora Tornado, in honour of the town where he was bred and trained. He raced with a 'daisy cutting' action which gave the impression that his feet were not touching the ground with each stride that he took.
Paleface Adios won 108 races over his career of 240 starts and more than $500,000 in prizemoney. He however made an inauspicious debut at
SydneySydney is the largest city in Australia, and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney has a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million and an area of approximately 12,000 square kilometres. Its inhabitants are called Sydneysiders, and Sydney is often called "the Harbour City"...
's Harold Park as a 2 year old when he fell, as a short priced favourite. He started in an incredible seven consecutive Miracle Mile's at Harold Park (one of Australia's Grand Circuit races which is invitation only) winning once in 1976. He never won Australasia's biggest race, the Inter-Dominion but did win eight heats of the event. At one time he held the world record for 1000m following a time trial at Hawkesbury, New South Wales.
During the 1970s, Paleface Adios became a household name in Australia, especially in
MelbourneMelbourne is the capital city and most populous city of the State of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne city centre is the anchor of the larger geographical area and statistical division known as the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area – of which Melbourne is...
. Harness racing was featured weekly on Saturday night TV as part of the popular live variety show
The Penthouse ClubThe Penthouse Club was a weekly variety program produced live to air from the studios of HSV-7 Melbourne from October 10, 1970. It was originally hosted by Michael Williamson and comedian Mary Hardy....
. His clashes with
Hondo GrattanHondo Grattan was a pacer from Bathurst, New South Wales known as the "Bathurst Bulldog". Hondo Grattan was a winner at a time of top competition, including Pure Steel and Paleface Adios. He won the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship in both 1973 and 1974, becoming the first horse to successfully...
(the Bathurst Bulldog) were legendary. In early 1990s Paleface Adios was included in a satirical song honouring Australian sporting legends presented by Graham and The Colonel on
ABCThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC", is Australia's national public broadcaster. With a total budget of AUD$1.13 Billion annually, the corporation provides television, radio, online and mobile services throughout metropolitan and regional Australia, as well as...
TV's
The Late ShowThe Late Show was a popular Australian comedy show, which ran for two seasons on ABC TV from 18 July 1992 to 30 October 1993.-Cast:* Santo Cilauro* Tom Gleisner* Jane Kennedy* Judith Lucy * Tony Martin* Mick Molloy* Rob Sitch...
.
Paleface Adios died at
TemoraTemora may refer to:* Temora, New South Wales, a town in Australia* Temora , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, NSW, on 11 December 1989. It is believed that this was a result of a snake bite but this was never confirmed. He is commemorated by a life-sized monument in Hoskins Street, the main street of Temora.