ADIOS TO KING'S COUNSEL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 65, 17 March 1945, Page 18

ADIOS TO KING'S COUNSEL

WAS AMERICAN ; HIGHLIGHT

WHILE 1944 will go down in harness turf history as a trotting year with the largest number of the sensational performers of that gait, there were a few pacers which performed away above the ordinary, and one of these was the four-year-old colt Adios, owned by Thomas Thomas, of Cleveland, and driven by Frank Eirvin. It was not the only season during which the handsome bay colt has starred; he was a sensation in 1942 as a two-year-old and a big stake winner as a three-year-old, participating in record-smashing races during all of his three years on the turf. Adios was one of the horses Which was always doing the unexpected just when it looked that they had his number; when it seemed that his chief opponent, had all the best of him he would smash through with a record-breaking performance, one which would place his name more securely among the really great pacers of all time. Adios staged.his greatest race in his final appearance of the J 'seas6hi the 1500-dollar free-for-all pace raced the second day of the trots at Lexington. There were five in the field which opposed him, four of them with records of 2.0. All conditions were perfect for a great race. King's Counsel was the choice of the wagerers. Adios is one of those "come - on - and - beat - me • if - you - can" pacers; likes to go out in front and Ervin let him have his. way, the" colt setting a terrific pace, the quarter in 30s, the half in 59Js, and the three-quarters in 1.29 J. When challenged, Adios. still had a 283s quarter in reserve, and finished on the bit in 1.581 to establish the 1844 record for pacers, also to establish a new race record for four-year-old pacers, bcatiag the previous record of 1.53 made by Nate Banoveiin 1938. ■■■■■ \ ;;;.r—v : " Something \ew The second heat was almost a repetition of the first, with the time .a quarter second faster at *he threequarters, 1.29 i. King's Counsel challenged, anil the pair fought it out to the finish, Adios gaining a photo decision, the time again 1.58 J. This established a.new record for a twoheat pacing, race, replacing th#.lvsß:

land 2.0 race won by Directum I. from William at Columbus in 1914. The time of the second mile also equalled the second heat record for pacers. The history of the great series of battles between Adios and King's Counsel during the past three sea-: sons furnishes one of the most sensational chapters in the history of racing pacers. When a two-year-old, Adios had the edge, his most sensational performance when he paced a half-mile track in 2.3} to establish a record which still stands. At three.

they staged many great battles with varying results. One of their sensational battles the past season was at Shelbyville, half-mile track, where they raced the first .three-quarters ef the first heat in 1.291, Adios* theij v coming on to win in 2.2, and he repeated in the second. heat in 2.5 J, the final quarter in 29Js. At Jefferson, Adios was barely beaten by King's Counsel in 2.1, the record for four-year-olds on a twoJap track, then Adios won the next heat in 2.6, pacing the last half in 1.0. At Delaware, Adios won the first heat in 2.4, pacing the final quarter in 295. -*.>->*- - -^ Cv«r the half-niiie tract at t>u Quoin, Adios forced King's Counsel to pare a third heat in 2.2 : i. It was give rnd take between ihcso two great four-year-olds all season, with Adios gaining the greatest decision in their final meeting at Lexington with the two heats 111 1.58 J.

. Mr.. Thomas also owns that sterling trotter, -Scotland's Comet,,which m&j. .sold recently 'to go ; into the stud at Two Gaits Farm. Driven by Ervin, he established a long string of world's records on half-mile tracks the past season-in addition to racing to a record of 2.0 at Old Orchard.