LCYS 2024: Tara Hills Stud Farm Ltd.
David Heffering's Tara Hills Stud Farm Ltd. was recognized for the first time with the Armstrong Breeder of the Year award at the 2023 O’Brien Awards held earlier this year.
"It has its ups and downs for sure. All of us as breeders, we'll come out of [the sales] feeling good some days and other days, we're like, wow, it's just like we’re hitting ourselves with a hammer...” mentioned Heffering. “We've had a lot of O’Brien Awards, but we never ever got an O'Brien Award for breeder."
Dave Heffering - Owner of Tara Hills Stud Farm
Established in the mid-1990’s by Heffering’s late father, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame builder inductee Peter Heffering, the Port Perry, Ont. breeding farm has long been successful producing champions on the racetrack. (*From Standardbred Canada)
Farm Manager Matt Harrison
The London Classic Yearling Sale team caught up with a very busy Tara Hills’ farm manager, Matt Harrison, recently to talk about the operation and the yearlings being offering this Fall in London.
“The Armstrong Breeder of the Year award was almost surreal,” says Harrison. “It’s been a long time coming - as we’ve focused on developing the product, over the years, with better stock and better mares.”
Matt Harrison - Farm Manager of Tara Hills Stud Farm
Harrison began rubbing horses in high school and went on to work at Armstrong Bros. Farm, Glengate Farms, Alabar Farms (New Zealand) and Winbak Farm (New York), over the years, before settling into his farm manager position with Tara Hills.
An exciting time for anyone involved in standardbred breeding operations with the baby races and first career starts taking place all over North America in recent weeks. “This is the carrot,” says Harrison. “Starting to see them show up (at the races)… It gets us through the end of the breeding season.”
Harrison was excited to talk about some of the stallions on duty in Port Perry…
The ‘Number 1’ stallion in Canada (for 2023), MUSCLE MASS, produced winners of $6,889,905 last season and remains a ‘kingpin’ stud for Tara Hills. “He’s getting on now, at 19, but he’s made it easy for us, over the years, being a fertile stallion. Until another knocks him off the throne he’ll continue to do his thing.”
Muscle Mass - remains a ‘kingpin’ stud for Tara Hills.
On fresh trotting stallion GREEN MANALISHI… “We have some confidence in the Muscle Hill line - they’ve done well in Ontario and being a Swedish-bred with Enjoy Lavec on the maternal side - he’s different looking and racy.”
Green Manalishi - his first crop are making their racing debuts in 2024!
On pacing stallion DANCIN LOU… “He was the first and only son of Sweet Lou to be offered in Canada when he came to us, so that’s been exciting.”
Dancin Lou - his first crop are making their racing debuts in 2024.
For pacing stallion CATTLEWASH… “He and Green Manalishi are the next generation kind of sire. Both are different from what we’ve had in the past. They’re the modern-look to me.”
Cattlewash - his first crop are making their racing debuts in 2024.
And Tara Hills’ newest trotting stallion KING OF THE NORTH… “He’s quiet and he comes in and does his job. Breeders all seem happy with what they have so far from him.”
King Of The North - his first crop will make their racing debuts in 2026.
“The hair stands up on my arms just talking about Cattlewash, King Of The North and Green Manalishi,” concluded Harrison.
The Tara Hills’ offering for this Fall in London…
TH SAYIT AINT SO, f (Cattlewash-Dreamin Girl) - first foal from a sibling to Major Bombay ($575K), Bombay Away ($314K) and Shes Da Bomb ($216K). “She’s big and leggy… We’ve done really well with this family!”
TH MAJORETTE, f (Green Manalishi-Twirlaway) - second foal from a mare that comes from a super nice trotting family.
TH FEEL MY MASS, c (Muscle Mass-Feel Invincible AS) - second foal from a sibling to The Lionking AS ($452K), Triathlon AS ($291K) and Touchdown AS ($268K). “He looks like a Muscle Mass and is doing everything right so far. We like this colt lots!”
ANNIES DIVA, f (Cattlewash-Triple Charm) - fifth foal from a sibling to Roll With Jr ($361K), Oneisalonelynumber ($278K) and Cougar Bait ($216K). “She’s a different model from what this mare has had. A nicer size and racy looking!”
TH MARY JANE, f (Muscle Mass-Candy Lane) –-fourth foal from a sibling to Spee Club ($385K), As Yall Like It ($316K) and No More sweets ($109K). A half-sister to Candy Bomber 1:56.2f ($120K).
TH DANCININTHEDARK, c (Dancin Lou-Caritas Easel) - fourth foal from a sibling to Tomorrowpan ($546K), Frontierpan ($317K), Pan Street USA ($313K) and Fantasypan ($237K). A half-brother to News Caster 1:54.4f ($73K). “A beautiful colt and we like him… Good size - big and elegant with legs and length. We really liked News Caster!”
TH MORGANSFAIRCHILD, f (Green Manalishi-Stonebridge Nitro) - from the family of Peaceful Way the first foal from a sibling to Tito ($290K), The Boss Man ($124K) and Stonebridge Peace ($119K). “She has the colour and head of Green Manalishi and has a Muscle Mass-look to her as well.”
TH OLLIE, c (Cattlewash-Future headlines) - fourth foal from a stakes winner of $241K. A half-brother to TH Tyson ($64K) and TH Sandra Dee (now 2 and racing). “His sister has scary speed. Another great looking colt!”
TH BALLIWASH, f (Cattlewash-Ballineen) - sixth foal from a stakes winner of $291K. A half-sister to Ucanttouchthis 1:49.4f ($325K) and Sake Tumi 1:53.2s (92K). “She’s a different model. This filly is tall, leggy, long and elegant.”
TH TRU PLAY, c (Shadow Play-Truce Seelster) - fourth foal from a sibling to Tempus Seelster ($501K), Tye Seelster ($428K) and Topaz Seelster ($214K). A half-brother to On Dayboo 1:51.4m ($88K). “Not a bad colt… We’ve had success in selling out of this mare - she’s done well for us!”
*Be sure to visit www.londonclassic.ca for all the latest! #LCYS2024