RETIRED Lambourn trainer Barrington William ‘Barry’ Hills, 88, died on the eve of this year’s Irish Derby, a race that he had carried off with Sir Harry Lewis, ridden by John Reid in 1987.

Apprenticed to George Colling in Newmarket, Hills rode nine winners before working for Colling, Fred Rimell and latterly for a 10-year stint with John Oxley in Newmarket.

While Barry Hills’ first official training success - of a career total of 3,181 - was achieved at Thirsk in 1969, he had laid the groundwork during the winter months of 1967-’68 while taking responsibility for John Oxley’s Hurworth House stable in Newmarket.

Oxley was in the habit of wintering in sunnier climes, in this case the Caribbean. In his absence Barry Hills targeted the Lincoln Handicap for the stable’s talented miler, Frankincense, owned by Lady Halifax.

Frankincense had won four of his six starts as a three-year-old in 1967. Every shilling he could beg or borrow Barry had on Frankincense in the ante-post market.

On March 27th, the opening of the flat season at Doncaster, Frankincense, ridden by stable jockey Greville Starkey, was sent off 100/8 second favourite to defeat all of 30 rivals. Always prominent, he took it up a furlong out, keeping on gamely to hold Waterloo Place (Joe Mercer) at bay by one and a half lengths. Barry Hills had made enough to set up as a trainer in his own right.

That he promptly did, setting out his stall in South Bank, Lambourn, formerly home to Keith Piggott, successful trainer and father of the legendary champion jockey Lester Piggott.

There, he and his wife Maureen lived with their three sons, John, Michael and Richard. The latter pair were destined to become accomplished jockeys on the level.

Rapid progression

His profile in The Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Flat Racing, published back in 1978, makes worthwhile reading. ‘The rapidity with which Hills established himself among the leaders of his profession has been one of the features of recent years. Having won 17 races worth £9,685 in his first season, he won 21 worth £26,268 in 1970, 34 worth £27,886 in 1971 and 55 worth £53,124 in 1972. Consequently his string has grown from initially 22 to 104 by the outset of 1973.’

Horses trained by Hills made their first impact on the classics during 1972, when Rheingold was only beaten a short head in the Derby, with his stablemate Our Mirage fourth. In the St Leger Our Mirage was second, beaten half a length.

It was through Rheingold that Hills attained recognition as a trainer of international status when that colt, ridden by Lester Piggott, won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1973. The same year Rheingold won the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud for the second time, while his other successes included the Prix Ganay and the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

While Barry Hills’ lifelong ambition to win the Epsom Derby remained unfulfilled – he had four seconds – the other four classic races did fall to South Bank challengers. Closer to home, Barry Hills enjoyed ample fortune on the Curragh and at Leopardstown.

His Irish classic haul of five was highlighted by Sir Harry Lewis (John Reid) in the 1987 Irish Derby. That had been preceded by Dibidale (Willie Carson) in the 1974 Irish Oaks, a race that fell to him for a second time with Bolas (Pat Eddery) in 1994. Twelve months earlier, his son Michael had ridden Nicer to carry off the Irish 1000 Guineas, a race father and son combined to win again in 1999 with Hula Angel. Perhaps the greatest surprise of Barry’s Irish portfolio was his capturing the 1990 Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown with Nomadic Way, ridden by Brendan Powell.

Irish bookmakers were not taken unawares, returning Nomadic Way at a conservative 3/1. Barry Hills’ second marriage, to Penny in 1977 produced Charles, destined to succeed his father in 2014 to excellent effect.

BARRY Hills trained many top-class horses during his long and illustrious career from 1969 to 2011. His 3,000-plus winners included 11 classic victories and 300 group race winners. Here are five of our favourites.

FURTHER FLIGHT

Not the classiest performer Hills ever trained, but arguably the most popular and certainly the most hardy. Racing from 1988 to 1998, the grey won 24 of his 70 races, including top staying races such as the Goodwood Cup and Ebor. However, he is best remembered for winning the Jockey Club at Newmarket five years in a row (1991 to 1995).

HAAFHD

Haafhd bridged a 10-year gap without classic success for Hills in 2004 when landing the 2000 Guineas, ridden by his son, Richard. Haafhd clearly saved his best for Newmarket, as he had earlier won the Craven Stakes and ended his career that autumn with victory in the Champion Stakes.

MOONAX

The most unlikely of Hills’ classic winners was Moonax when he took the St Leger at odds of 40/1. In the expert hands of Pat Eddery, the enigmatic colt defeated none other than Broadway Flyer, trained by Hills’ son, John, and ridden by another son, Michael. Moonax showed that victory was no fluke by following up in the French St Leger a month later.

RHEINGOLD

The best horse Barry Hills ever trained came early in his career. Rheingold almost gave him a Derby triumph, but he was just touched off by Roberto in 1972. However, a year later the colt ran out an impressive winner of Europe’s premier race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, beating the brilliant Allez France by two and a half lengths.

TAP ON WOOD

Hills’ first major success at Newmarket came with Tap On Wood in the 2000 Guineas of 1979, as he upstaged hot favourite Kris in the hands of Steve Cauthen. The young American had recently been enticed to Britain at the request of Robert Sangster and showed his prowess by driving Tap On Wood home by half a length.