South Burnett racing identity farewelled

By Jordan Gerrans

There was nothing surer than when someone jumped in South Burnett racing identity Tom Moloney’s car that the races would be on his radio.

The third generation racing participant dedicated his life to the code and was deeply passionate about the industry. 

Tom was a long-time trainer – after starting out as an amateur rider when he was a teenager – before turning his hand to club administration later in life. 

The respected industry figure passed away late last month. 

He was 65 years of age. 

Tom had battled with illness in recent months before his eventual death. 

He spent time training in Far North Queensland earlier in his life, but it was the South Burnett region where Tom was prominent throughout his decades in the code.

In recent years he was the president at Kumbia and spent time as vice-president at Burrandowan while also having links to Wondai.

In the later stages of his training career, he used the Wondai track to condition his team.

Veteran Wondai trainer Bob Black lauded the influence Tom had on the local industry. 

“He was very good in the race club here at Burrandowan, he represented the club at delegates meetings for the area,” Black said.

“He was always up to speed with everything and we are really going to miss him in that regard because he was the fella that had the best contacts about what was going on in the racing industry.”

As an owner, Black had horses with Tom when he was training and they would often travel to the track together, always with the races playing over the car stereo. 

In recent times when Tom had fallen ill, Black had taken over a few of his horses, including the consistent Diggity. 

In what would be a touching result if the galloper could score, the Black-prepared Diggity heads to Wondai this Saturday in the Open Handicap over 1100 metres.

The nine-year-old chestnut was one of the best horses Tom prepared in his career with the gelding amassing 10 victories and 29 minor placings from 77 attempts.

“We hope he will run well for Tom,” Black said.

“He will have to put his best foot forward; it is only a small field but there are some good horses in that race.

“Hopefully he can race well for Tom. Tom trained horses for us on and off over the years and helped us get involved a bit.

“In later times as his health faded, he handed those horses over to me and I have been handling myself for a little bit.

“Horses and racing in general, they were his passion. Racehorses were his hobby – not his business – but he put so much effort into them.”

Tom worked on the family cattle property for much of his life.  

Diggity took the small stable to the city to compete in the Battle of the Bush decider back in 2023 where the galloper finished seventh in a credible performance. 

Diggity competed in the Country Stampede decider back in 2020 also. 

As well as Diggity, Tom also had success with Famechon Baroness, Igbo and Ultra Instinct, among others, over the years.

The local tracks of Wondai and Kumbia were where he tasted the greatest success as a trainer. 

He was the incumbent president at Kumbia before his passing.

Kumbia Race Club secretary Myolene Kearney said Tom made a great impact in his two years on the committee. 

“He was a true gentleman, with a lifelong passion for all things racing,” Kearney said.

“His experience and beautiful calm demeanor certainly helped us out immensely.

“Tom was loved and respected by so many and actively involved with our club, as a volunteer, trainer, jockey for many, many years prior to being in the president’s role.”

Racing was in Tom’s blood from a young age with his father and grandfather both heavily involved.

The three Moloney brothers started in the game as young riders with Tom holding onto the family’s legacy in the sport over the decades from there.

“Tom, Pat and I and were amateur jockeys riding our father's horses when we were young,” Tom's brother Dan recalled.

“Tom carried on with racehorses whereas Pat and I went in other directions. Racing was his life.”

Dan recalls Tom’s first win as an amateur jockey coming at Burrandowan on Moloney’s Panpas, while he was still in high school at 16 years of age, way back in 1976.

He then trained his first winner in the 1980s when he was working in Cairns before relocating back to the South Burnett.

Racing And Sports’ statistics have Tom training 59 winners across his tenure in the sport with his last starter in a race back in late November of last year.

“He was very close to his nieces and nephews, Maddy, John, Sean and Grace,” Dan said.

“He was a very quiet and reserved person.”

Tom Moloney’s funeral service will be held at Virgo's Funeral Home Chapel in Kingaroy on Monday, July 7 from 11am.

Racing Queensland extends its condolences to the Moloney family.