I stumbled onto 606 several years ago and noticed almost straight away that Michael and Richard Hills are concidered rubbish in the saddle. (so say their wives.) Sorry couldn't resist that one. So I did a quick Wiki and what do ya know. Mick hasn't done all that bad. Nearly a couple of thousand winners, and a list of impressive Black Type winners. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Michael Hills (born 22 January 1963) is a British flat racing jockey. He is twin brother to Richard Hills and their father is racehorse trainer Barry Hills. Michael has a series of hobbies, such as darts and snooker. Michael is sponsored by Carraig Insurance. Contents [hide] 1 Personal life 2 British career wins 3 Major wins 4 See also 5 References [edit] Personal lifeMichael is happily married to Chris Hills and has a daughter- Sammi Hills who is a professional model and beautician. Chris is Australian and continues to breed Australian Cattle Dogs She is also a stud secretary at Mertoun Paddocks - www.templetonstud.com. They raise 3 Cattle dogs and a Kinane Terrier and also have several chickens named after their fellow friends. [edit] British career wins1979 - 5 1980 - 13 1981 - 10 1982 - 15 1983 - 39 1984 - 41 1985 - 39 1986 - 40 1987 - 75 1988 - 76 1989 - 77 1990 - 61 1991 - 65 1992 - 91 1993 - 86 1994 - 89 1995 - 74 1996 - 80 1997 - 84 1998 - 61 1999 - 92 2000 - 73 2001 - 58 2002 - 65 2003 - 57 2004 - 66 2005 - 56 2006 - 69 2007 - 50 2008 - 47 2009 - 57 [edit] Major wins Great Britain Ascot Gold Cup - (1) - Arcadian Heights (1994) Champion Stakes - (1) - Storming Home (2002)[1] Coronation Stakes - (2) - Rebecca Sharp (1997), Maids Causeway (2005)[2] Derby - (1) - Shaamit (1996)[3] Dewhurst Stakes - (4) - Huntingdale (1985), Scenic (1988, dead heat), In Command (1996), Distant Music (1999) Fillies' Mile - (1) - Silk Slippers (1989) Golden Jubilee Stakes - (2) - Owington (1994), Royal Applause (1997) Haydock Sprint Cup - (2) - Royal Applause (1997), Red Clubs (2007) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - (1) - Pentire (1996) King's Stand Stakes - (1) - Equiano (2010) Lockinge Stakes - (1) - First Island (1997) Middle Park Stakes - (2) - First Trump (1993), Dark Angel (2007) Nassau Stakes - (1) - Ryafan (1997) Nunthorpe Stakes - (2) - Handsome Sailor (1988), La Cucaracha (2005) Prince of Wales's Stakes - (1) - First Island (1996) Queen Anne Stakes - (1) - Nicolotte (1995) Sun Chariot Stakes - (1) - Spinning Queen (2006) Sussex Stakes - (1) - First Island (1996) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- France Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - (1) - Handsome Sailor (1988) Prix d'Ispahan - (1) - Sasuru (1997) Prix Jean Prat - (1) - Golden Snake (1999) Prix Morny - (1) - Hoh Magic (1994) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hong Kong Hong Kong Cup - (1) - First Island (1996) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ireland Irish 1,000 Guineas - (2) - Nicer (1993), Hula Angel (1999) Irish Champion Stakes - (1) - Pentire (1995) Matron Stakes - (1) - Pixie Erin (1987) National Stakes - (1) - Lockton (1986) Pretty Polly Stakes - (1) - Lady Upstage (2000) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italy Premio Vittorio di Capua - (1) - Nicolotte (1995) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United Arab Emirates Dubai Golden Shaheen - (1) - State City (2003) . .......................................................................................................... Richard Hills. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Richard Hills (born 22 January 1963) is a flat racing jockey. He is twin brother to Michael Hills (also a jockey) and their father is racehorse trainer Barry Hills. The twins' older brother John Hills is also a trainer. They also have two younger brothers, Charles Hills (Assistant Trainer to his father Barry) and George Hills who works in the Breeding and Insurance side of the industry in Kentucky, USA. Richard Hills rode his first winner, Border Dawn, at Doncaster Racecourse on 26 October 1979. His first Group 1 winner was Ashal in the Ascot Gold Cup in 1990. He became the second jockey of Hamdan Al Maktoum in 1995, and was promoted to first jockey in 1997 following the retirement of Willie Carson. He also fills in for spares rides for Godolphin Racing. [edit] British career wins1979 - 2 1980 - 6 1981 - 12 1982 - 31 1983 - 25 1984 - 39 1985 - 39 1986 - 42 1987 - 46 1988 - 52 1989 - 63 1990 - 56 1991 - 67 1992 - 52 1993 - 57 1994 - 59 1995 - 70 1996 - 71 1997 - 85 1998 - 83 1999 - 77 2000 - 81 2001 - 79 2002 - 82 2003 - 75 2004 - 66 2005 - 72 2006 - 54 2007 - 73 2008 - 68 [edit] Major wins Great Britain 1,000 Guineas - (3) - Harayir (1995), Lahan (2000), Ghanaati (2009) 2,000 Guineas - (1) - Haafhd (2004) Ascot Gold Cup - (1) - Ashal (1990) Champion Stakes - (2) - Nayef (2001), Haafhd (2004) Coronation Stakes - (1) - Ghanaati (2009) Dewhurst Stakes - (1) - Mujahid (1998) Falmouth Stakes - (2) - Alshakr (2000), Tashawak (2002) International Stakes - (1) - Nayef (2002) July Cup - (1) - Elnadim (1998) Middle Park Stakes - (2) - Hayil (1997), Awzaan (2009) Oaks - (1) - Eswarah (2005) Prince of Wales's Stakes - (2) - Mtoto (1987), Nayef (2003) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - (2) - Maroof (1994), Summoner (2001) St Leger - (1) - Mutafaweq (1999) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canada Canadian International Stakes - (1) - Mutamam (2001) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- France Prix Morny - (1) - Arcano (2009) Prix du Moulin de Longchamp - (1) - Aqlaam (2009) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Germany Aral-Pokal - (1) - Wind in Her Hair (1995) Deutschland-Preis - (1) - Mutafaweq (2000) Preis der Diana - (1) - Salve Regina (2002) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italy Gran Premio del Jockey Club - (1) - Ekraar (2003) Gran Premio di Milano - (1) - Leadership (2003) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United Arab Emirates Dubai Duty Free Stakes - (1) - Altibr (1999) Dubai Sheema Classic - (1) - Nayef (2002) Dubai World Cup - (1) - Almutawakel Not too bad for a couple of useless blokes.
Personally I’ve never had a problem with Richard Hills and think him a more than capable pilot. Myself, I don’t see his presence on a horse as a negative at all. From the front is where he particularly excels in my opinion. The ‘other one’ though is the worst jockey that I have ever seen ride on the flat.
I would say Richard is worst of the 2, but there isn't alot in it. He is at his best from the front, il give him that, but the thing that winds me up most about Richard is he looks like he's not even trying to win the race, it's like he's not putting any effort in. So when it gets down to a tight finish you know you've done your money if he's in the saddle
I agree with Shergar - I backed Taqleed on Saturday (video here http://horses.sportinglife.com/Video/Racing/0,27770,451375_3,00.html) and Richard Hills just dropped him out the back and never put him in the race. So often he just looks like he can't be bothered. Having had the retainer with Sheikh Hamdan for so long I think he has lost any competitive drive - he is just going through the motions. He doesn't have to impress anyone (or so it seems) and still keeps getting a full book of rides most days. Over the years they have been given plenty of ammunition from dad and Sheikh Hamdan. Look what Willie Carson did with similar ammo.
Have to agree with OddDog on Richard, he so often seems to give his mount no chance at all? His best rides were possibly on Haafhd in 2004; he really did keep Haafhd going well in the Champion Stakes that year (10f was probably Haafhd's absolute max. distance on soft ground?). I sincerely believe both the twins were once pretty fair jockeys, but have regressed with age. This happens you know!* *(Will the joker who sent me an anonymous msg on 26/07 calling me "...a tedious old fart" (normally only allow my wife to call me this) have the moral courage in future to comment on the open forum; it is pretty chicken to send anon. msgs. to other members? I am pretty impervious to insults on here, but I have no time for anonymous creeps. Go out and buy some guts young fellow).
I must say I always have a go at Richard Hills these days. In the past though I didn't seem to mind him much. My dad was telling me he never used to mind backing him years ago either. He seems a lot weaker these days imho
Usually an older rider makes up for having less strength, with more smarts. An old timer is probably better than most as anyone as long as he doesn't have to get into a whipping duel.
It does amaze me that Sheikh Hamdan continues to employ Richard Hills, and the other twat T O'****. You would think with all the money he invests that he would employ a decent stable jockey, or just allow the stable jockeys of the trainers he uses to ride for him
I'm more than happy to believe that Sheikh Hamden knows more about the running of his operations than me.
Cyc, the answer to the question “Are the Hills boys really crap?” is clearly No. Most jockeys would kill for a career record spanning thirty years consistently riding over fifty winners a season. Obviously picking up lots of rides for their father helps as does Richard’s retainer with Hamdan Al Maktoum, but even given opportunities they still require some ability to generate winners. There are those that regularly berate them when they do not win, although this is usually coloured by a financial interest in the horse in question, which begs the question “why did you back it if you think that the jockey is rubbish?”
