The Temora Tornado
One’s ability can be measured in numbers and awards; and also one’s presence/aura. One that had all these features was Temora’s famous Harness Pacing Horse ‘Paleface Adios’.
People are often quoted that this horse was extremely unique in that its persona was seen as similar to human like traits in that he had a never-say-die-attitude and the strive for greatness.
Paleface Adios’s racing career was from 1972 to 1981 (from a 2YO until he was retired as an 11YO). He was trained and driven throughout his career by Colin Pike and was owned by Colin’s wife, Shirley Pike.
His racing record was 204 starts, with 108 wins, 43 seconds and 25 thirds, race earnings were $535,640 and his major race win was in the 1976 Miracle Mile. Racing awards that he received was the Youngest Australian pacer to earn $100,000; World record 2:02.3 standing start over 2400m and First Australian 3YO to break 2:00. Paleface’s personal best was a mile rate of 1:57.6.
The Temora Tornado with which he was uniquely nicknamed, was in honour of the town he was bred and trained and the style in which he raced was described like a ‘daisy cutting’ action which gave the impression that his feet were not touching the ground with each stride that he took.
Temora truly adopted this chestnut beauty by commemorating him with a life-sized monument in the main street park which is also named after the great Paleface.
Paleface Adios died on 11 December 1989, and it is believed that this was the result of a snake bite but this was never confirmed.
For many Temora residents we often refer to our town with the horse on the stick, however, it is well and truly more than this. We are a town who honour those that are honourable and Paleface Adios was definitely in this portfolio.
Many stories can be told of his winnings and tales of his rival horses throughout the harness racing competition……. “One small story that the writer of this story can contribute is not one that details witnessing his ability or seeing this horse in real life. It is one that I remember as a little girl going to Bankstown for a basketball competition and going to dinner at the Bankstown Paceway and walking in with our Temora Falcons attire. And when we walked in we were greeted by the then manager and treated like royalty…… because we were from Paleface town.”
This experience would in fact be similar to other community members of Temora and the continuance of harness racing in Temora is a step that we as a community need to support.