Tributes paid to Ronnie O'Neill of Whytemount Stud after death at 74

Tributes have been paid to Ronnie O'Neill of Whytemount Stud, County Kilkenny, who died on Friday at the age of 74 following a long illness.

Remembered by everyone as a gentleman, his lasting legacy to National Hunt racing and breeding is his belief in Stowaway, who was posthumously crowned champion National Hunt sire for the 2020-21 season and was leading sire at the Cheltenham Festival, powered by the O'Neill family's initial faith in the son of Slip Anchor.

A talented amateur jockey for Paddy Mullins before taking out a trainer's licence, O'Neill was an intelligent horseman who derived his breeding and training success from spotting potential in Aga Khan broodmares and bloodlines.

Posting on X, Joe Foley of Ballyhane Stud wrote: "Deepest condolences to everyone at Whytemount stud. Ronnie was the consummate horseman, a talented amateur jockey and a very astute stallion master. May he rest in peace."

On the same platform, breeder Michael Looby posted: "Very sad news, an absolute gentleman, so many were delighted when his life's work was rewarded with Stowaway becoming champion sire, condolences to all the family, RIP."  

It was O'Neill's decision to bring back stallions to the family farm at Whytemount, where once Irish Draught sires resided, including True Boy, the sire of legendary King Of Diamonds, and one stallion in particular that O'Neill was willing to take a chance on which transformed the fortunes of not just O'Neill and his family but quite a few breeders too.

Stowaway had been favourite for the St Leger of 1997 having won the Great Voltigeur and Gordon Stakes, but he failed to make the starting line at Doncaster. However he gained his Group 1 victory in the inaugural running of the Dubai Sheema Classic.

When O'Neill and his wife Linda visited Dalham Hall Stud to inspect him, they were immediately drawn to him and it was a simple decision to stand him at their Kilkenny farm and home.

Others were much slower to spot Stowaway's potential and many of his early foals were Whytemount homebreds but, statistically, his numbers were impressive.

In an interview with the Racing Post in December 2021, O'Neill was quick to credit Ted Walsh's intervention on RTE Racing for the upturn in numbers.

O'Neill recalled: "Ted Walsh said on television that Stowaway was the best-value horse in Ireland, standing with Ronnie O'Neill below in Kilkenny for just €1,000 and he gets winners every day of the week.

Ronnie O'Neill with Stowaway at Whytemount StudCredit: Patrick McCann

"After that we couldn't keep the phones answered, the landline and the mobile never stopped. He went from covering around 20 mares to being the busiest sire in Europe that year."

Outside breeders were keen to jump on the Stowaway train and that year he covered 312 mares. It was a feat that would be repeated by another Whytemount stallion – Affinisea – a decade later.

The O'Neill family bred some of Stowaway's finest progeny, including the multiple Grade 1 winner Outlander, Punchestown Grade 1 winner Champagne Classic and Hidden Cyclone.

One of Stowaway's magnificent achievements is siring Put The Kettle On, who is the only mare to win the Arkle and Queen Mother Champion Chase, while among his other Cheltenham Grade 1 winners are Champagne Fever, Fury Road and Monkfish.

Ronnie's greatest achievement wasn't transforming an unwanted stallion into a champion, it was the building a successful family business in rural Ireland with his wife and children; daughters Charmaine, Debbie, Rachel and Lorraine, and sons Paul and John.

Son-in-law Shark Hanlon wrote on X: "Rest in peace Ronnie."

Sean Hanlon, who runs his father's social media, also posted, writing; "Rest in peace grandad."

In that same Racing Post interview, Ronnie said: "For a little, small outfit like this, to have the luck we have had is amazing. Some studs have people backing them but we have nobody behind us, it's just us. This is the team." 

It was a real family business and one which thrived based on hard work and generosity.

"He got a good one every year and did it the hard way. It's kind of a fairytale story the way it went." 

Ronnie's words about Stowaway could so easily be applied to his own life.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

Funeral arrangements are available here along with a book of condolence.