Lewis Taylor might not have been celebrating a goal in front of thousands of adoring AFL fans, but he sure got a buzz out of his success at Dalvui Raceway on Friday night.

The former Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans player teamed up with long-time friend and top driver Jason Lee to win the double-seater sulky race during Terang Pacing Cup night against politician Dan Teehan, Racing.com presenter Matt Stewart and gun local netballer Jacqui Arundell.

“I was keen to get the win,” Taylor admits. “It's obviously a bit of fun, but I said to Jase ‘we want to win this’.

“I'm one for one, so I'll take that. Straight to the front and didn't look back.”

Taylor's victory on Friday with Jilliby Royal – a retired pacer that still calls the Lee stable in Ecklin South home - wasn't his first time in the bike. Infact, it was far from it.

“I actually worked out there (with the Lee family) when I was 16 and then full time... I didn't do year 12,” Taylor recalls. “That was great. I got out of school and they really looked after me.

“We were down doing the horses most days, so it was good fun.”

Taylor headed interstate when he was drafted by the Lions in 2013 and embarked on an AFL career that spanned two clubs, nine seasons and 124 games. He’s best remembered for a debut campaign that won him the AFL Rising Star award in 2014.

During his stint in the AFL, Taylor maintained an interest in harness racing through ownership and enjoyed some major highs with top performer Code Bailey.

Taylor and Lions player Darcy Gardiner became involved in the ownership during early 2019 and celebrated some big wins, including the 2020 Bendigo and Terang cups.

“He made the Miracle Mile and that was pretty big at the time,” Taylor said.

“I flew down for the Bendigo Cup and so did Darcy. That was a bloody good night.

“We're pretty much family - myself, the Lees and the Cravens. That's how I see it, so it's easy to get involved with them because you trust them.

“It's been a bloody good ride with the horses we've been in.”

Despite retiring from elite-level competition, football is still front and centre in Taylor’s life. He is gearing up for his second season as senior coach of Terang-Mortlake and remains involved in the ownership of a handful of horses, including Code Bailey.

“I get out there occasionally and do a bit of weekend work here and there at the dairy or whatever they need,” Taylor said.

“They're great people, the Lees and the Cravens.”