Heffering's Vision: Nurturing Tara Hills' Journey to Becoming a Leading Breeding Powerhouse

Tara Hills Stud Farm Ltd., owned by David Heffering, received the prestigious Armstrong Breeder of the Year award at the 2023 O'Brien Awards held in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for the farm, located in Port Perry, Ontario.

"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... We've had a lot of O'Brien Awards, but we never ever got an O'Brien Award for breeder”

said Heffering sharing his impressions.

Heffering expressed his humility upon receiving national acclaim, stating, "It truly humbles me, especially after witnessing the heartfelt tribute to Joe O'Brien during the awards ceremony. Being here in P.E.I. and sharing the experience with fellow racehorse enthusiasts from this region made it even more special."

The horses bred by Tara Hills Stud Farm had an extraordinary season, racking up an impressive 169 victories and generating over $3.4 million in earnings in 2023, leading up to the voting period for the O'Briens, which concluded on December 1. One standout performer was Tattoo Artist, who was crowned the Older Pacing Horse of the Year for 2023. With notable wins in the Canadian Pacing Derby, Jim Ewart Memorial, and Dayton Pacing Derby, Tattoo Artist emerged as the farm's sole earner of $1 million during the season. Another horse that shone brightly was Storm Shadow, accumulating more than $375,000 in earnings during his debut campaign, highlighted by a victory in the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final.

Following the awards ceremony, Heffering took the opportunity to reflect on the season's highlights, express his gratitude towards the dedicated team behind Tara Hills Stud Farm, and pay tribute to his late father, Peter Heffering, a revered Hall of Famer whose impact on the farm has been profound. In an interview with Standardbred Canada, Heffering also shared insights about the prospects he is excited about for Tara Hills' future operations, including the Ontario Sires Stakes program.