The final chapter of a Tailamade era

The 17th September 1994 and 4th April 2025 are two important dates in the life of the greatest mare to grace a Harness Racing track in Australia for the past 40 to 50 years. 

Tailamade Lombo was born on 17th September 1994 and sadly her life came to an end last Friday , 4th April 2025 , when she had to euthanised for health reasons at Alabar Bloodstock’s Echuca Farm in northern Victoria. 

The daughter of Troublemaker and Butterfly Trunkey had lived in retirement at Alabar for the past seven years , most of which she was occupied as a “ nanny “ to a group of weanling and yearling fillies. 

She was laid to final resting place last Friday in Elite Company  –  joining the some of the Champion stallions who called Alabar home such as Whats Next , Golden Greek , Fake Left , Sokys Atom , Safely Kept , Village Jasper and Presidential Ball. 

Tailamade Lombo won her first race as a 2 year old at Gloucester Park on 10th February 1997 and concluded her racing career on 15th March 2002 in the 2002 Inter Dominion Final at Harold Park .   In between those dates she won a further 48 races and accumulated earnings of $1,354,978. 

Leaving aside earnings from Slot races [ which are not funded under normal racing prizemoney ] , Tailamade Lombo is the richest ever Australian bred mare to have set foot on Australian tracks. 

She not only beat all her female opposition with ease , she took on and beat the best horses racing in the Southern Hemisphere of that time , which included Courage Under Fire , Our Sir Vancelot , Sokyola , Safe and Sound , Iraklis and Attitagain. 

She truly was the “ Winx “ of Harness Racing in the late 1990’s and early part of this Century. 

However it wasn’t all glory right from the start.  She was broken in by experienced horseman Graeme Tindale in WA . 

“ She was like a 5 legged pacer initially , meaning she was very rough going in her gear. After persevering for months she eventually learnt the pacing caper and by about her fourth or fifth race start was starting to show signs of what was ahead.” said Graeme last week. 

Indeed it wasn’t until Tailamade’s seventh race start that she greeted the judge at Gloucester Park on 10th February 1997.   Her last victory came in the Shepparton Gold Cup just prior to the Christmas of 2001. 

Tailamade Lombo was trained for most of her career by Jayne Davies and Noel Alexander. 

“ She was an aloof sort of mare who didn’t enjoy any special attention.  She lived in a paddock at our property and I used to feel sorry for her on those cold winter days.  However that is what she liked and kept her happy .   It was an absolute privilege to have been associated with her.”  Said Jayne last Friday. 

Incredibly so many of the great racemares over the years , whether Standardbred or Thoroughbred , have been disappointing when retired to the breeding paddocks.  However Tailamade put paid to that fact as well. 

She produced 15 foals in a long breeding career , 10 of which won $1,788,795 between them. 

The legendary mare was bred and raced by WA Businessman Mick Lombardo.  We will leave the final word on a remarkable life to him. 

“ Tailamade has filled Freda’s and my life with so many great memories .  It was at a time when we also had Rapida , Concord and La FeFe racing but she was so special.

My favourite memory of her was chasing home Christian Cullen in the 1998 Miracle Mile , leaving Our Sir Vancelot and Iraklis in her wake. “

by John Coffey for Harnesslink