1939-45 William James Parvin
William James Parvin, universally known as Billy, was born on 2nd June 1904 at Caldecott, Rutland into a family with close connections to racing, his father Alf was a jockey, and Billy became one of the leading National Hunt jockeys between the Wars. In 1911, aged just 7, Billy got a stroke of luck when the family moved to Blind Lane, Lambourn, to provide work for his father, which enabled Billy to ride out. Billy gained his first win on 26th September 1923 when partnering Plumado 1/3 fav to victory at the Isle of Wight racecourse. Arguably his most successful season was the 1927-28 season, although he did strike up a great relationship with stable star Ormada to win 9 races in 1924-25, but in 1928 he won the County Hurdle on Truthful James 7/1 at the Cheltenham Festival meeting, although he was unplaced in the Liverpool Hurdle 3 weeks later. The next year he won the 1929 Stanley Chase with Relation 7/1 at the Aintree Grand National meeting. Billy rode for a number of prominent Lambourn trainers, notably Sir Hugh Nugent, based at Windsor House Stables, and Captain Kenyon Goode, based at The Old Manor Stables. For the former he won 10 times on hurdle specialist Song of Essex, including victory in the 1931 Berkshire Hurdle at Newbury, while for the latter he chalked up 32 wins. Goode had ridden in the Grand National 5 times without troubling the Judge, but Parvin contested the great race 15 times, his best finish being second in 1935 on Blue Prince when defeated by Reynoldstown, owned and ridden by Major Noel Furlong. Reynoldstown completed the Grand National double the next year when partnered by the legendary Lambourn trainer Fulke Walwyn. In 1939, whilst still riding, he bought South Bank and had 19 stables built, which later increased to 26 in 1969, 50 in 1971 and 75 thereafter. His last winner as a jockey was on Unofficial at Wetherby on 31st March 1945, and by then he was training at South Bank. However, his training career was both short and unsuccessful, and he moved to Oxfordshire.
1928 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival TRUTHFUL JAMES 7/1 owned by Les Milne, trained by Powell and ridden by Billy Parvin
1929 Stanley Chase at Aintree RELATION 7/1 owned and trained by Captain Powell and ridden by Billy Parvin
1931 Berkshire Hurdle at Newbury SONG OF ESSEX 13/2 owned and trained by Sir Hugh Nugent and ridden by Billy Parvin
1946-1969 Keith Piggott
Keith Piggott, son of trainer and jockey Ernest Piggott, and father of the legendary Classic winning jockey Lester Piggott, was born on 11 April 1904. His family were steeped in racing history, his father Ernest rode over 1000 winners, was crowned champion National Hunt jockey on 3 occasions, and rode the winner of both the 1912 Grand National Jerry M and the 1919 Grand National Poethlyn. Keith's mother Margaret, was sister to the champion Flat race jockey, Mornington Cannon, her other brothers being jockeys Kempton and Tom junior, and her own mother Catherine was granddaughter of the brilliant trainer John Barham Day. Keith was destined to become a jockey and, aged 12 he joined the Newmarket stables of Bert Lines, later transferring to Frank Barling, although he did not ride his first winner until his 15th birthday on 11th April 1919, partnering Mr T Butler's Chuckberry 7/4 favourite trained by Swash in the lowly Compton Selling Handicap at Newbury.
After hanging up his riding boots he initially trained near the Old Manor House, Letcombe Regis straight after the end of the Second World War, where he had served in the Royal Observer Corps, before moving to Lambourn in 1946, training at South Bank stables. Lester was riding in his father's stable at the age of 10, and became stable apprentice at the tender age of 12. To Keith's great surprise, and to the majority in the racing world, Keith won the 1963 Aintree Grand National with Ayala, whose odds of 66/1 were an accurate reflection of his chances. Indeed, even the jockey, Pat Buckley did not think he would win, for at the second last fence he was passed by the John Oaksey ridden Carrickbeg and urged that jockey on with a 'Go on John, you'll win', but on the long run in Ayala's stamina prevailed and he overhauled Carrickbeg by 3/4 length at the line. That win alone meant Keith finished at the top of the list of National Hunt Trainers with prize money totalling £23,091. The next year he trained his best Flat horse Anselmo for the singer Billy Fury, guiding him to fourth place at 100/1 in the 1964 Epsom Derby behind Santa Claus. That horse went on to carve out a successful career over hurdles, winning 5 of its 6 races, culminating in the prestigious Victor Ludorum Hurdle at Haydock Park on Saturday 13th March 1965 when made the 13/8 favourite and ridden by Tommy Carberry. He retired from the training ranks in 1966, while in 1969 he sold South Bank, which had just 28 boxes at the time, to Barry Hills for £16,000. In 1987 wife Iris died and Keith moved to Newmarket towards the end of his life, occupying a bungalow close to son Lester's training establishment Eve Lodge, not only giving Lester support and advice, but also helping Fred Winter in his quest to win a Grand National. Keith died on 15 June 1993 aged 89, leaving £600,000 in his will.
1963 Aintree Grand National £18,945 3s AYALA (66/1) owned by Mr P B (Teasy-Weasy) Raymond, trained by Keith Piggott and ridden by Pat Buckley
1965 Victor Ludorum Hurdle £3000 at Haydock ANSELMO (13/8 fav) owned by Billy Fury, trained by Keith Piggott and ridden by Tommy Carberry
1969-November 1986 Barry Hills
Barrington William Hills, son of William George Hills, the one-time head lad to the successful Worcestershire trainer Fred Rimell, and Phyliss (nee Biddle), was born on 2nd April 1937 at South Bank Nursing home, an intriguing coincidence given that his first Lambourn training Stables was also named South Bank. Barry's War years were spent at Tintern House in the village of Quedeley, and he was given the chance of an education at Ribston Hall in Gloucester, but Barry would admit that formal schooling was always a poor second to schooling racehorses. Once the War ended father Bill Hills and his family returned to Newmarket as head lad to George Colling at Hurworth House, having previously been with Sam Pickering in Kennet, on the outskirts of Newmarket. In Newmarket the young Barry Hills was given a pony, Polly, which he loved and which he was allowed to ride out with first lot. By this stage of his education he attended the Convent of St Mary School and was given permission to arrive late in the morning so that he could ride out with first lot. Barry's father suffered from tuberculosis when Barry was still young, and the family moved to Nottinghamshire to live near his paternal grandfather in Redmile. To some this would have been a frightening upheaval, but Barry was allowed to take Polly with him, enabling him to begin his lifelong love of hunting with the Belvoir Hunt. In 1947 Barry's father had an operation removing one of his lungs, but was able to return to work as head lad to Charlie Pratt at Uplands Stable in Lambourn, providing the young Barry with his first contact with the Berkshire racing village, and gave him the chance to ride his first racehorses. Unfortunately, Bill Hills suffered a further bout of ill health and the family were unrooted once more to Upon on Severn, although this did present Barry with the chance to work at Fred Rimell's stables at a time when he should have been at school. He enjoyed his first public racecourse ride on 3rd June 1952 at Birmingham aboard Golden Chance II (20/1) in the Erdington Selling Handicap Plate, although he was unplaced. Fred Rimell's stable effectively closed in the summer, providing Barry with the chance to work at Tom Rimell's yard at Windsor House Stables in Lambourn, cementing further his association with the racing village, and then joined George Colling's Hurworth House Newmarket Stable, riding nine winners for Colling in total, the first of which was Sudden Light at Newmarket on 14th July 1954. Barry then completed his National Service in 1957 before returning to Hurworth House, which by then had John Oxley installed as trainer after the death of George Colling in 1959. Barry's first marriage to Maureen (nee Newsom) produced 3 sons, the oldest of which was John, born on 25th September 1950, followed by the twins Richard and Michael who were born on 22nd January 1963. They were followed sometime later, George and Charles, but that was after a divorce and second marriage. It was whilst he was with John Oxley, becoming Head Lad, for which he earned a salary of £726 in his first year, equivalent to £12,000 in todays terms, that he honed his training skill, having already had a firm grounding with George Colling. But he also hatched a plan to win a pot of gold, not relying on a beaded rosary formed from hardened myrrh gum resin, but built around a horse called Frankincense, after he won the 1967 William Hill Gold Cup at Redcar. Barry believed the horse was well in on the handicap and his belief was strengthened when Oxley took charge of a horse of Syd Mercer, an ex-trainer who new the time of day as an owner and successful gambler. The horse was named Copper's Evidence and Mercer instructed Oxley to train him for the early season Lincoln Handicap. In a trial on the gallops one day Barry noted that Frankincense put Copper's Evidence firmly in its place despite giving him over 2 stone, at which point Barry began taking the 66/1 freely available on Frankincense for the Lincoln, spreading a range of small bets across numerous bookmakers so that they would not collectively smell a rat. On Lincoln day, 27th March 1968 at Doncaster, Barry's future career as a trainer was on the line, with Frankincense, ridden by Greville Starkey, facing 30 other runners, and being saddled with a draw of 31 out of 31. Although Barry believed that Frankincense performed best when held up, Starkey noticed that a dangerous opponent, Waterloo Place, had suffered a bump out of the stalls, so he ensured that his horse was up with the pace and nudged him to the front before the final furlong. Carrying a welter burden of 9st 5lbs, Starkey urged Frankincense on and held the late challenge of Waterloo Place by half a length. Barry was ecstatic, winning over £60,000, the equivalent of almost £2 million in todays terms, and he had the pleasure of visiting umpteen bookmakers to collect his spoils. He applied for a trainers license in 1969 and purchased South Bank stables in Lambourn for £16,000 from Keith Piggott, father of the mighty Lester Piggott. Barry, wife Maureen, and their 3 young sons moved into the 28-box yard, 14 of which were filled in the first year, and began the hard work of expanding the yard. Barry enjoyed his first winner, La Dolce Vita at Thirsk when ridden by Ernie Johnson. His first winner of note came the next year when Golden Monad (13/2) won the Group 3 Dee Stakes at his beloved Chester netting. Our Mirage (8/1) gave Barry his first Group 1 victory in 1971 in the Prix De La Salamandre at Longchamp, while Hickleton (5/2) provided Barry with his first Royal Ascot winner when landing the Queen Alexandre Stakes. However, the horse which really broadcast that Barry Hills had arrived was Rheingold, who won the Dante Stakes in 1972 and was then beaten by the shortest of short heads by Roberto in the Epsom Derby. He made amends the next year when winning the worlds most valuable race at that time, the Prix De L'Arc de Triomphe when ridden by Lester Piggott. Barry gained his first Classic in 1974 with Dibidale in the Irish Oaks, having been cruelly denied victory in the English Oaks by a saddled which slipped. Further Classics came in 1978, Enstone Spark winning the 1000 Guineas, and in 1979 when Tap on Wood won the 2000 Guineas ridden by the American wonder kid Steve Cauthen who Barry and Robert Sangster had enticed from America. However, the Epsom Derby still eluded him, having finished second again in 1978 with Hawaiian Sound, as did the English 1000 Guineas and the St Leger, although he did eventually land the oldest of the 5 English Classics. In late 1986 he was made an offer which he could not refuse when Robert Sangster provided him with the chance to train at Manton, and Barry left South Bank Stables behind in the capable hands of son John, who took out his own license, and made his way to Wiltshire.
Barry trained at Manton for 4 years from late 1986 to 1990 enjoying much success. He landed his first Derby in 1987, but not the Epsom Derby which he coveted, rather the Irish Derby with Sir Harry Lewis (SR 1935) at the Curragh ridden by John Reid. Also, in 1987 he won the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes with Gallic League, and went further afield to Hollywood Park to land the Matriarch Stakes with Asteroid Field. Handsome Sailor was a particularly impressive sprint during his time at Manton, winning the Duke of York Stakes in 1987 and 1988, the Temple Stakes at Sandown in 1988, the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup in 1988, rounding off that year with victory at Longchamp in the Prix de L'Abbaye. Scenic was another Group 1 winner in 1988, albeit via a dead-heat in the end of season Dewhurst Stakes. Towards the end of his time at Manton he won the 1990 Group 1 Sussex Stakes at the Glorious Goodwood meeting with Distant Relative, who also went on to take the Prix Du Moulin at Longchamp. By then Robert Sangster had decided to sell Manton and Barry tried in vain to raise over £10 million to purchase the estate but, in the end, he had to return to Lambourn and his former stables at South Bank.
1969-1979 Group, Listed and major Handicap winners
1970 Dee Stakes (Group 3) £1977 at Chester GOLDEN MONAD (13/2) owned by S H Lee, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1970 Prix H Delafarre (Group 3) at Longchamp GOLDEN MONAD owned by S H Lee, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1971 Prix de la Salamandre (Group 1) £16,000 at Longchamp OUR MIRAGE (8/1) owned by N Cohen, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1971 Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) £2454 at Royal Ascot HICKLETON (5/2) owned by W Ward, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1971 Horris Hill Stakes (Group 2) £5,512 at Newbury DISGUISE (3/1) owned by Lord Porchester, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1972 Dee Stakes (Group 3) £2,421 at Chester OUR MIRAGE (2/1) owned by N Cohen, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1972 Dante Stakes (Group 3) £2,952 at York RHEINGOLD (4/1) owned by Henry K Ziesel, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1972 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) £46,200 at Saint-Cloud RHEINGOLD (9/2) owned by Henry K Ziesel, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Yves St Martin
1972 Great Voltigeur (Group 2) £4,101 at York OUR MIRAGE (11/4) owned by N Cohen trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1972 Prix Gladiateur (Group 3) at Longchamp HICKLETON, owned by W Ward, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Freddie Head
1973 John Porter Stakes (Group 3) £4,380 at Newbury RHEINGOLD (10/11 fav) owned by Henry K Ziesel, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Yves St Martin
1973 Prix Ganay (Group 1) £40,000 at Longchamp RHEINGOLD owned by Henry K Ziesel, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Yves St Martin
1973 Jockey Club Stakes (Group 3) £4,315 at Newmarket OUR MIRAGE (15/8 fav) owned by N Cohen, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Frankie Durr
1973 Chester Vase (Group 3) £4,147 at Chester PROVERB (33/1) owned by Lt-Colonel J Chandos-Pole, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1973 Dee Stakes (Group 3) £2,428 at Chester NATSUN (3/1) owned by N Cohen, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1973 Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) £11,843 at Royal Ascot RHEINGOLD (1/5 fav) owned by Henry K Ziesel, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Yves St Martin
1973 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) £54,545 at Saint-Cloud RHEINGOLD owned by Henry K Ziesel, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Yves St Martin
1973 Princess of Wales Stakes (Group 3) £2,448 at Newmarket OUR MIRAGE (15/8) owned by N Cohen, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Frankie Durr
1973 July Stakes (Group 3) £7,521 at Newmarket DRAGONARA PALACE (1/2 fav) owned by Mrs B Stein, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1973 Richmond Stakes (Group 2) £8750 at Goodwood DRAGONARA PALACE (4/9 fav) owned by Mrs B Stein, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1973 Goodwood Cup (Group 3) £3970 at Goodwood PROVERB (6/4 jt fav) owned by Lt-Colonel J Chandos-Pole, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1973 Grand Prix Prince Rose (Group 1) at Ostend RHEINGOLD owned by Henry K Ziesel, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1973 Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) £5,789 at Ascot STRAIGHT AS A DIE (16/1), owned by B Jenks, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Frankie Durr
1973 Prix de L’Arc De Triomphe (Group 1) £150,000 at Longchamp RHEINGOLD (SR 2123) 15/2 owned by Henry K Ziesel, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1974 Cheshire Oaks (Group 3) £2,520 at Chester DIBIDALE (11/2), owned by N J F Robinson, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1974 Duke of York Stakes (Group 3) £3,068 at York NOBLE MARK (4/1 fav), owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1974 Irish Oaks (Group 1) £24,032 at the Curragh DIBIDALE (SR 1998) 7/4 fav owned by N J F Robinson, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1974 Goodwood Cup (Group 2) £5132 at Goodwood PROVERB (4/5 fav) owned by Lt-Colonel J Chandos-Pole, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1974 Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) £13,872 at York DIBIDALE (1/3 fav) owned by N J F Robinson, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1975 Dee Stakes (Group 3) £3,690 at Chester RAVEL (7/1) owned by C Harris-St John, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1975 Chesterfield Cup (Handicap) £2574 at Glorious Goodwood EDWARDS HILL (33/1) owned by Mrs B Thomson, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Robert Street
1975 Richmond Stakes (Group 2) £13,561 at Goodwood STAND TO REASON (12/1) owned by Lord Ranfurly, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1975 Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 2) £8,130 at Newmarket DUBOFF (8/1), owned by Mrs C Radcliffe, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1976 Child Stakes (Group 2) at Newmarket DUBOFF, owned by Mrs C Radcliffe, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Edward Hide
1976 Chesterfield Cup (Handicap) £3107 at Glorious Goodwood BLASKETTE (2/1) owned by Mrs R Owen-George, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Paul Cook
1976 Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) at Newmarket DURTAL trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1977 Fred Darling Stakes (Group 3) at Newbury DURTAL trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1977 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Group 3) at Epsom LADY MERE trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1977 Princess of Wales Stakes (Group 3) at Newmarket LORD HELPUS trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1977 Seaton Delaval Stakes (Group 3) at Newcastle SEXTON BLAKE, owned by T Motley, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1977 Ascot Stakes (Handicap) £4947 at Royal Ascot MATINALE (7/1) owned by Mrs Olive Thurston, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1977 Laurent Perrier Champagne Stakes (Group 2) at Doncaster SEXTON BLAKE, owned by T Motley, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1977 Princess Royal Stakes (Group 3) at Ascot ALOFT PRINCESS trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Greville Starkey
1978 1000 Guineas (Group 1) at Newmarket ENSTONE SPARK (SR 1846) 33/1 owned by Dick Bonnycastle, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1978 Heath (Feilden) Stakes (Listed) at Newmarket HAWAIIAN SOUND, owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1978 Musidora Stakes (Group 3) at York PRINCESS OF MAN (8/1) trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1978 Gordon Stakes (Group 3) £11,168 at Goodwood SEXTON BLAKE (100/30) owned by T Motley, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Edward Hide
1978 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (Group 1) at York HAWAIIAN SOUND, owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Lester Piggott
1978 National Stakes (Group 2) at the Curragh TAP ON WOOD trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Ernie Johnson
1979 Earl of Sefton Stakes (Group 3) at Newmarket HAWAIIAN SOUND (5/4 fav) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1979 Westbury Stakes (Group 3) at Sandown Park SEXTON BLAKE (7/2 jt fav), owned by T Motley, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1979 2000 Guineas (Group 1) £55,840 at Newmarket TAP ON WOOD (SR 2015) 20/1 owned by Tony Shead, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1979 Chester Vase (Group 3) at Chester CRACAVAL trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1979 Dee Stakes (Group 3) at Chester TWO OF DIAMONDS trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1979 Chesterfield Cup (Handicap) £3791 at Glorious Goodwood PHILODANTES (4/1) owned by Phil Bull, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1980-1986 Group, Listed and major Handicap winners
1980 Blue Riband Trial (Group 3) at Epsom LAST FANDANGO trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1980 Duke of York Stakes (Group 3) at York FLASH 'N' THUNDER (5/1) trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1980 Dettingen-Rennen (Group 3) at Baden-Baden MINERS LAMP trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1980 Chester Cup (Handicap) £8966 at Chester ARAPAHOS (7/2 fav) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1980 Scottish Derby (Group 3) at Ayr PRINCE ROLAND trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1981 Craven Stakes (Group 3) at Newmarket KIND OF HUSH (25/1) trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1981 July Stakes (Group 3) at Newmarket END OF THE LINE trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1982 Fred Darling Stakes (Group 3) at Newbury SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1982 Musidora Stakes (Group 3) at York LAST FEATHER trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1982 Duke of York Stakes (Group 3) at York JESTER (9/2) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1982 Lockinge Stakes (Group 2) at Newbury MOTAVATO trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1982 Prince of Wales Stakes (Group 2) £20,113 at Royal Ascot KIND OF HUSH (4/1) owned by A Shead, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1982 Jersey Stakes (Group 3) £16,432 at Royal Ascot MERLINS CHARM (9/1) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1983 Fern Hill Stakes (Rated) £6504 at Royal Ascot GAYGO LADY (8/1) owned by Sir E Harrison, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1983 Oak Tree Stakes (Listed) £9021 at Glorious Goodwood FENNY ROUGH (14/1) owned by Mrs R Hastings, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1983 Seaton Delaval (Group 3) at Newcastle KNOXVILLE trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1983 Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1) at Newmarket DESIRABLE trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1983 Sun Chariot Stakes (Group 2) at Newmarket CORMORANT WOOD (7/2), owned by Robert McAlpine, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1983 Champion Stakes (Group 1) £91,610 at Newmarket CORMORANT WOOD (18/1), owned by Robert McAlpine, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1984 Sagaro Stakes (Group 3) £14,176 at Ascot GILDORAN (11/2) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1984 Lockinge Stakes (Group 3) £17,360 at Newbury CORMORANT WOOD (9/2), owned by Robert McAlpine, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1984 Fern Hill Stakes (Rated) £6659 at Royal Ascot VERCHININA (12/1) owned by Bill Gredley, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Richard Fox
1984 Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1) £40,334 at Royal Ascot GILDORAN (10/1) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1984 Goodwood Cup (Group 2) £21,440 at Glorious Goodwood GILDORAN (9/4) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1984 Surplice Stakes (Graduation) £4627 at Glorious Goodwood FANDANGO BEAT (5/2) owned by A Shead, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1984 Seaton Delaval Stakes (Group 3) £15,673 at Newcastle ZAIZAFON (4/1) owned by Khalid Abdullah, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1984 Hungerford Stakes (Group 3) £17,804 at Newbury PREGO (15/1) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Pat Eddery
1984 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (Group 1) £95,895 at York CORMORANT WOOD (14/1), owned by Robert McAlpine, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1985 Ormonde Stakes (Group 3) £18,075 at Chester SEISMIC WAVE (7/1) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1985 Dee Stakes (Group 3) £17,730 at Chester INFANTRY (16/1) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1985 Coventry Stakes (Group 2) £21,488 at Royal Ascot SURE BLADE (3/1 fav) owned by Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1985 Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1) £42,566 at Royal Ascot GILDORAN (5/2 jt fav) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1985 Herbstuten Preis (Group 3) at Neuss SWIFT & SURE trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1985 Laurent Perrier Champagne Stakes (Group 2) at Doncaster SURE BLADE (5/4 fav), owned by Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1985 Gilltown Stud Stakes (Group 3) at the Curragh ONLY trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1985 Waterford Candelabra Stakes (Group 3) at Goodwood ASTEROID FIELD (11/1) owned by Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1985 Premio Cascine (Group 3) at Florence MAUMAN trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1986 Trust House Forte Mile (Group 2) at Sandown FIELD HAND (11/2) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1986 Musidora Stakes (Group 3) at York REJUVENATE (9/2), owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1986 Ascot Stakes (Handicap) £9070 at Royal Ascot RIKKI TAVI (7/2 fav) owned by A Boon, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1986 St James Palace Stakes (Group 1) £31,138 at Royal Ascot SURE BLADE (9/2) owned by Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1986 Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) £8662 at Royal Ascot CAROLS TREASURE (6/5 fav) owned by Mrs C Lane, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1986 Park Hill Stakes (Group 2) at Doncaster REJUVENATE, owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
1986 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) at Ascot SURE BLADE (6/5 fav), owned by Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Brent Thomson
November 1986-Nov 1990 John Hills
John William Hills, oldest son of Barry and Maureen Hills, was born on 25th September 1960 and was followed 3 years later by twins Michael and Richard. While the twins forged careers as jockeys, John remained a keen amateur jockey and became an adept trainer. His earliest ride as an amateur was at the age of 16 when partnering Matinale (5/1) to success in the historic 306th Newmarket Town Plate on Thursday 14th October 1976, defeating Marie Tinkler on Rowdy Elf. At that time the Town Plate was still recognisable from the Articles presented by King Charles II in 1665, with the first running taking place in 1666. The 1976 version was still run on the second Thursday in October over the Round Course, although it was impractical to run the race in heats. By 2006 the decision makers abandoned the sacred second Thursday in October for an August date, and some purists thought it marked the end of the Town Plate's links with King Charles II. In 2022 it was run in July, not over the Round Course but over just 2 miles, making it literally half the race which King Charles had decreed. John's first ride under the Rules of Racing was aboard Humdoleila (4/7 fav) at Redcar on Tuesday 1st August 1978 in the Rosedale Amateur Riders Stakes which he won by 4 lengths. It was the first of his 21 winning rides, the best of which was aboard the Josh Gifford trained Lumen in the 1979 Moet & Chandon Silver Magnum at Epsom. However, it was always more likely that the twins would become successful jockeys while John was destined to join the training ranks. He enjoyed a good grounding in the art of training through Eddie O'Grady, Tom Jones at Newmarket, John Gosden and Colin Hayes in Australia before becoming assistant to Barry at South Bank Stables. When his father was offered the prestigious job at Manton in November 1986 John oversaw the stables for a short time before taking on the trainers license in early 1987, marrying Fiona in the same year, the marriage being blessed with 4 daughters, Jessica, Olivia, Martha and Isabella. He quickly marked his arrival to the training ranks with a win by Sanamer in the April Maiden Mile at Pontefract on 23rd April 1987 when partnered by his brother Michael. Although he had limited success in high profile races during his time at South Bank, he later won the 1993 Old Newton Cup with Glide Path, the 1994 Chester Vase with Broadway Flyer, the 1995 Group 1 Aral-Pokal in Germany with Wind in her Hair, the 1996 Newbury Spring Cup with Royal Philosopher, the 1999 Hong Kong Derby with Docksider and his sole Royal Ascot success in the 2000 Queen Alexandra Stakes with Dominant Duchess. In late 1990 Barry Hills time at Manton came to an end and he needed to reclaim his old South Bank Stables, so John moved elsewhere in Lambourn to the Hill House yard which Paul Cole had once trained successfully.
1991-96 Barry Hills
Barry Hills oldest son John had held the fort well at South Bank while he was at Manton, but when Barry returned for the 1991 season John had to up sticks and move to Hill House Stables, one time haunt of Paul Cole. Although Barry did not record any Group 1 successes during his first year back at South Bank, he did win the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood with Bold Russian. However, the horse which broadcast to the racing world that Barry Hills had returned was the legendary grey Further Flight, winning the Goodwood Cup, St Simon Stakes and the first of his Jockey Club Cups in 1991. By 1992 Barry was well on his way to designing and constructing Faringdon Place Stables, an Olympic athlete's stones-throw away from South Bank, although that did not prevent Barry from keeping up his impressive strike rate, especially with Further Flight who won the Goodwood Cup, Doncaster Cup and the second of his Jockey Club Cups. Furthermore, to show his adaptability, and that there was no animosity with Robert Sangster over Manton, Barry trained Nomadic Way to win the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The horse had already captured the 1988 Cesarewitch and 1990 Irish Champion Hurdle while Barry was still at Manton, and was runner-up in both the 1990 Champion Hurdle behind Kribensis and the 1991 Champion Hurdle behind Morley Street. In 1993 Barry chalked up another Classic success when the filly Nicer (SR 1869) won the Irish 1000 Guineas and, in the same year, Further Flight won the Jockey Club Cup for the third time. By 1994 the Faringdon Place Stables project had come to fruition, a project which began in 1991 with planning applications, and Barry was ready to move from South Bank to his new stables. In 1994 Barry recorded further Classic victories when Bolas (SR 1973) won the Irish Oaks and Moonax (SR 1881) notched a 40/1 surprise victory in the St Leger, although that win also came with a tinge of sadness because Barry's horse defeated son John's Broadway Flyer. As the chapter on South Bank Stables closed for Barry Hills, a new, equally successful chapter at Faringdon Place was launched.
1991 Beeswing Stakes (Group 3) £23,814 at Newcastle BOLD RUSSIAN (11/2) owned by Lord White of Hull, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1991 Goodwood Cup (Group 3) £37,994 at Glorious Goodwood FURTHER FLIGHT (9/2) owned by Simon Wingfield Digby, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills
1991 Oak Tree Stakes (Listed) £18,762 at Glorious Goodwood HIMIKO (10/1) owned by Y Ito, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills
1991 Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) £21,519 at Haydock Park LORD OF TUSMORE (10/1) owned by Wafic Said, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Alan Munro
1991 Celebration Mile (Group 2) £47,545 at Goodwood BOLD RUSSIAN (100/30) owned by Lord White of Hull, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Willie Carson
1991 St Simon Stakes (Group 3) £21,987 at Newbury FURTHER FLIGHT (6/1) owned by Simon Wingfield Digby, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills
1991 Jockey Club Cup (Group 3) £25,335 at Newmarket FURTHER FLIGHT (7/4 fav) owned by Simon Wingfield Digby, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills
1992 Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) £40,535 at the Cheltenham Festival NOMADIC WAY (15/2) owned by Robert Sangster, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Jamie Osborne
1992 Earl of Sefton Stakes (Group 3) £19,990 at Newmarket SURE SHARP (9/1) owned by Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1992 Goodwood Cup (Group 3) £30,204 at Glorious Goodwood FURTHER FLIGHT (7/1) owned by Simon Wingfield Digby, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills
1992 Doncaster Cup (Group 3) £20,493 at Doncaster FURTHER FLIGHT (8/15 fav) owned by Simon Wingfield Digby, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills
1992 Jockey Club Cup (Group 3) £17,442 at Newmarket FURTHER FLIGHT (4/6 fav) owned by Simon Wingfield Digby, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills
1992 Rockfel Stakes (Group 3) £13,720 at Newmarket YAWL (9/4) owned by R D Hollingsworth, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Darryll Holland
1993 Irish 1000 Guineas (Group 1) £153,000 at the Curragh NICER (SR 1869) 8/1 owned by Hon Mrs J M Corbett, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills
1993 Jockey Club Cup (Group 3) £19,014 at Newmarket FURTHER FLIGHT (2/1) owned by Simon Wingfield Digby, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Michael Hills
1994 Ribblesdale Stakes £62,697 at Royal Ascot BOLAS (3/1 fav) owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Pat Eddery
1994 Irish Oaks (Group 1) £118,700 at the Curragh BOLAS (SR 1973) 5/2 fav owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by Pat Eddery
1994-present Housing development
Once Barry Hills switched to his new Faringdon Place Stables the land on which South Bank Stables stood became available for housing development.
RHEINGOLD (1973 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, Prix Ganay, 1972 Date Stakes, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud)
CORMORANT WOOD (1983 Champion Stakes, 1984 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup)
FURTHER FLIGHT (1991, 1992 Goodwood Cup, 1991-95 Jockey Club Stakes)
HAWAIIAN SOUND (1978 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup)
TAP ON WOOD (1979 2000 Guineas)
