Tally-Ho Stud near Mullingar has been producing champion racehorses for over 70 years. The well-known establishment is owned and managed by the O'Callaghan family, who acquired the stud farm in 1978.

Tally-Ho Stud is one of the longest established stud farms in Ireland and its rich limestone soil has been producing top-class racehorses since the 1930s.
The land surrounding Lough Ennell has reared many a champion racehorse, including the brilliant 1968 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Vaguely Noble, who was bred at Cleaboy Stud. The list of illustrious racehorses bred at Tally-Ho Stud includes: Parthia (Epsom Derby), Wollow (English 2000 Guineas), Cloonagh (Irish 1000 Guineas), Hard To Beat (French Derby), Aurelius (St Leger) and Alcide (King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and St Leger).
Cork man Tony O'Callaghan and his wife Anne purchased the farm in 1978 from Arthur Boyd Rochford, whose father was the leading English trainer Sir Cecil Boyd Rochfort, who was also stepfather to Classic trainer Henry Cecil. Assisted by their sons Roger and Henry, Tony and Anne have maintained the farm's proud tradition of producing high-class racehorses.
In the past three years, Tally-Ho has reared four individual Group 1 winners as well as a host of top-class winners. Among these winners are Bushranger, a top sprinting two-year-old who broke the track records at Newmarket and Deauville when winning the Middle Park Stakes and the Prix Morny respectively; Myboycharlie, who also won the Prix Morny; Kingsgate Native, winner of the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Nunthrope Stakes at York and Lahaleeb, winner of The EP Taylor Stakes in Canada last year.
The O'Callaghan family take a hands-on approach to running the farm which now consists of 365 acres. The combination of the experience, knowledge and enthusiasm of the two generations ensures Tally-Ho provides all of its customers with a personal and proven professional service. Tally-Ho is an experienced, efficient, effective and caring Stud which makes no excuses for providing the best of both established and new methodology in the breeding and care of thoroughbreds.
The farm embraces all aspects of breeding and rearing young thoroughbred horses and is recognised as one of the leading consignors of thoroughbreds in both Ireland and England. Over the past 30 years, the farm has embarked upon standing stallions and providing breeders with the opportunities to use well bred horses who can produce precocious horses.
Among the successful stallions that have stud at the farm are Danetime, champion sire of two-year-olds and sire of Bushranger and Myboycharlie; Redback, sire of Lahaleeb and Blues Traveller. The farm currently manages four stallions for the 2010 season headed by Bushranger, Baltic King (a record breaking son of Danetime), Kodiac (a half brother of the Irish National Stud-based Invincible Spirit) and Mr Dinos (Classic winner in France and winning of the Ascot Gold Cup).
Chineur is another Tally-Ho managed stallion that made an impressive start to his stallion career, having sired 14 individual two-year-old winners in his first crop of runners in 2009. He is based in France for the 2010 season.
Tally-Ho Stud also produces a number of 'Breeze-Up' horses every year for the major European B-Up sales, including High Standing, Wokingham S and Shadwell S Group 3 winner 2009 and Tarkeena Prince, a listed winner in Germany last year.
The horse-breeding season extends from January to July and it's a 24/7 schedule for all involved at Tally-Ho with the arrival of newborn foals and the care and management of the mares visiting the stallions. In addition, the foals of 2009 that were bred or acquired by Tally-Ho have to be reared and prepared for the yearling sales that are held at Goffs, Fairyhouse, Newmarket and Doncaster from September to December. Bloodstock sales companies commence their yearling inspection visits from April onwards so it's important that the yearlings are well presented for them.
Another aspect of the Tally-Ho farm enterprise is the breaking of yearlings for preparation for the two-year-old sales which take place in Ireland, England and France from March to May each year.
The logistics of arranging to get staff and horses to and from bloodstock sales as well as meeting with breeders, trainers, auctioneers and prospective purchasers is another aspect of the bloodstock business that is not often recognised by those from outside the business. The team at Tally-Ho take this in their stride and are always on hand to meet and greet their ever-expanding client base.
In an era when branding a product is a popular phrase, the Tally-Ho Stud team are very happy to let the horses that they have bred and reared do the talking for them on the racetracks throughout the world as they enter the winning enclosures.
The O'Callaghan family's other sporting interests are the GAA and rugby. A native of Kanturk in north Co. Cork, Tony played with his local club Castlemagner in his youth and has remained an avid Cork GAA supporter. Roger and Henry played football with Shandonagh, and Roger was also an accomplished rugby player with Mullingar, receiving the award for their 'Most Improved Player' a number of years ago.
Tony is hoping the 2010 championship will bring success to both Cork and his adopted Westmeath.
"Hopefully it will turn out to be a good year for both counties. I'm expecting Cork to challenge strongly for All-Ireland titles in both hurling and football, and Westmeath to do well in Leinster. Their new manager has a lot of rebuilding work to do and I wish him and Westmeath GAA the best of luck," he says.

For further information about Tally-Ho Stud or to make an appointment to visit the farm, telephone Tony on 086-2424416, Anne on 044-9348350 or Roger on 086-9690629. Their email address is [email protected] Tweet

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