Barry Hills dies aged 88 as tributes are paid to trainer of more than 3,000 winners

Tributes have been paid to top horse racing trainer Barry Hills who has died at the age of 88.

Hills sent out more than 3,000 winners during a brilliant career which lasted more than 40 years - and saw him saddle winners of four of the five British Classics at least once.

He set out at South Bank Stables in Lambourn and 1973 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Rheingold, 24-time scorer Further Flight and 2004 Guineas hero Haafhd were among the best horses he trained.

A statement from the British Horseracing Authority said: "All of us at the BHA are saddened to learn of the death of Barry Hills and send our deepest condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.

"Barry's contribution to racing was immense and he will rightly be remembered as one of the great figures of our sport."

In a post on his X account, son Charlie Hills said: “Gone but will never be forgotten #dad.”

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Charlie took on the stable's licence in 2011 when his father, who battled serious illnesses including cancer, retired.

He briefly made a return to the sport after the death of his son John in 2014. Hills was also father to Michael and Richard, both successful riders who rode almost 2,000 winners each and George, who has worked in bloodstock.

"Very sorry to hear about the death of Barry Hills. In awe of him, tough as nails," commentator Mike Cattermole wrote on X. "Incredible life which changed after an almighty gamble with Frankincense in the 1968 Lincoln. Arc-winning trainer within five years. Patriarch of an amazing racing family. Thoughts with them all."

Trainer Dylan Cunha said it was "devastating" to hear his former boss had passed away.

"My deepest condolences & sympathies with the Hills family," he said on the social media platform. "Barry Hills was a true legend, a master indeed & I always think back to the best days I ever had working there."

Hills, who prepared Tap On Wood to take the 2,000 Guineas in 1979 and saddled Ghanaati three decades years later, had ten British and Irish Classics on his record.

Starting out as a jockey, one of his more unusual successes came in the 1992 Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with Nomadic Way.

The blinkered runner switched between the two codes of racing and he also claimed the 1988 Cesarewitch Handicap. He died in 2012 at the age of 27.

And Further Flight was a real stable favourite, galloping to victory in five editions of the Jockey Club Cup.

A spokesperson for the Racehorse Owners Association said: "Everyone at the ROA is deeply saddened by the passing of Barry Hills, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this time.

"Barry made an extraordinary contribution to racing and will be remembered as one of the sport’s true greats."