Overview

• The British Horseracing Authority announced that Hills died on June 27 at the age of 88.
• He trained over 3,000 winners between 1969 and his 2011 retirement, securing ten British and Irish Classic victories while finishing runner-up in the Epsom Derby four times.
• Following a throat cancer diagnosis in 2005 and voicebox removal in 2008, he continued in training until 2011 and made a brief return in 2014 after his son John’s death.
• He founded a multi-generational racing dynasty, with sons Charlie and John as trainers and twins Michael and Richard establishing themselves as leading jockeys.
• Tributes from figures such as John Gosden and Steve Cauthen praised his meticulous preparation, combative spirit with bookmakers and lasting influence on modern training.