English jockey Richard Hills has announced he will retire from race riding next month after a career spanning 33 years.
The number one jockey to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum since 1997 is to hang up his saddle for the last time on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on March 31.
The 49-year-old, who came second in the 2001 Melbourne Cup on Godolphin’s Give The Slip, is currently in Dubai and issued a statement announcing his retirement.
“It has been my privilege to ride for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum as first jockey for the last 15 years and previously as second jockey to W (Willie) Carson for two years,” Hills said.
“No jockey could have ridden for a more loyal and supportive owner.”
Hills rode five British Classic winners for Sheikh Hamdan, taking the 1000 Guineas on Harayir (1995), Lahan (2000) and Ghanaati (2009).
He won the 2000 Guineas on Haafhd in 2004 – like Ghanaati trained by his father Barry – and the Oaks on the Michael Jarvis-trained Eswarah in 2005.
In 1999, Hills won the Dubai World Cup on the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Almutawakel.
Hills rode the first of more than 1840 domestic winners on Border Dawn at Doncaster in October 1979 and soon rose to prominence, being appointed Sheikh Hamdan’s second jockey in 1995.
He had already landed his first Group One win in those famous blue and white silks on Ashal in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 1990.
His other major victories included four Group One races on the Marcus Tregoning-trained Nayef – the 2001 Champion Stakes, the 2002 Dubai Sheema Classic, the 2002 Juddmonte International and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes in 2003.
A renowned judge of pace, two of Hills’ best front-running performances came in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot when he provided big shocks on Maroof in 1994 and Summoner in 2001.
He also won the St Leger at Doncaster in 1999 on Mutafaweq for Godolphin and enjoyed success at the top level in Canada, France, Germany and Italy.
Hills is a member of the famed Hills racing dynasty. His twin brother is fellow jockey Michael Hills, their father is retired former top trainer Barry Hills while brothers John and Charles are both trainers.
His son Patrick is also a jockey.
Once he retires, it is believed Hills will continue to work for Sheikh Hamdan in another capacity.
“I now want to use my knowledge and experience gained during my career to date to further contribute to Sheikh Hamdan and the Shadwell team including Derrinstown and Shadwell Farms,” he said.
“Closing one chapter, a new one begins.”
