Trainer Profile

County Of Origin: Kildare

Date of licence: 1984

First winner: Kath-Der-Mar (Mr Michael Halford), Wexford, July 2, 1984

Significant horses (Selected): Golden Cross, Casamento, Portage, Raydara, Toscanini, Eastern Appeal, Snaefell, Russian Soul, Certerach, Miss Emma, Miss Sally, Jazz Princess, Nick's Nikita, Invincible Ash, Molly-O, Platinum Warrior, Bear Story, Surrounding.

Did You Know:

A more than capable amateur rider, Michael Halford rode around 50 winners but has really made his name in his role as a trainer on the Curragh. He rode his first winner as a trainer when 2/1 favourite Kath-Der-Mar won a bumper at Wexford on July 2, 1984. He served as assistant to Noel Meade until branching out on his own that year. He has trained with notable success since then and gained his first Group 1 success with Casamento in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in 2010. Michael was closely associated with jockey Shane Foley for over ten years but announced in September 2017 that the County Kilkenny rider would no longer be an automatic first choice on his runners.

Michael reached a milestone of 1,000 winners in Ireland when Foley partnered Platinum Warrior to win the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, May 27, 2018.

In early February, 2025, Michael announced his intention to retire from the training ranks before the start of the new Flat season.