Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Lismore

Bay mare, 1:57.2 ($150,309)
By Albatross--Bret's Romance--Bret Hanvoer
Foaled on March 18, 1976 at Shamrock Farm, Winfield, Maryland
Died August 30, 2007 at Shamrock Farm
Trained by Harry Harvey

Lismore was one of the most famous broodmares of the 20th Century.

Named for a pattern of Waterford Irish Crystal, Lismore is the dam of 19 foals with collective earnings in excess of $4.5 million.

Her top performer is Albert Albert (1:52.1, $1,237,070); her daughter Lisheen (1:52.3, $518,405) is the dam of older pacing star Lis Mara (1:47.3, $2,122,376) and 2007 Nassagaweya stakes winner Lis Deo (1:50.2, $97,643).

Chris Steele, who manages Shamrock Farm with her husband Jim, referred to Lismore as the farm’s “Queen” and said the other mares seemed to sense her status.

“You’d find younger mares clinging to her,” says Steele. “I think it was the younger mares seeking her out rather than her seeking them out. Lismore was a good influence on them.

“She was a fantastic mother. She was the best as far as training her babies; when she called her babies, they came. There was no second call. When we’d bring mares in at night, Lismore was right at the gate and her baby was right beside her. She was phenomenal that way; her daughters have been pretty good mothers, but not nearly like she was. When Lismore foaled, it was a big occasion, but you were never worried. She’d just lie down, have the baby, stand up and nurse. It didn’t matter how old she was, her last foal was in 2001 (Liscara, 1:56.3) and she was 25 then.”

In her declining years, farm staff helped Lismore maintained her regal status by arranging for her to have paddock mates that were deferential to her.

Lismore died at her owner/breeder Tim Rooney’s Shamrock Farm in Winfield, Maryland, where she was born. She was euthanized when she experienced multiple problems associated with old age. Lismore was buried at the farm, with a marker made by Craig Thompson, stud manager at Shamrock Farm.