Barry Hills Trains 3,000th Winner Barry Hills reached another landmark in his 40-year training career when Chapter And Verse gave the Lambourn handler his 3,000th victory. Sent off the 4-7 favourite for the High-Rise Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Pontefract, the three-year-old scored by a neck from Mt Kintyre, who hung badly across the track when in a commanding position. Chapter And Verse, who was ridden by the trainer's son, Michael Hills, is part-owned by Jack Hanson and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Hills said: "I think we were a little fortunate on this occasion - the second horse (Mt Kintyre) has veered to the right - and whether we would have won otherwise is debatable. "But a winner's a winner and you need a bit of luck." Hills took out a training licence in 1969 and saddled his first winner in April of that year with La Dolce Vita at Thirsk. The 72-year-old handler has enjoyed countless big-race successes, including 10 Classic victories, on an impressive CV. Enstone Spark gave the trainer his first, and only, taste of 1000 Guineas success in 1978, while Tap On Wood (1979) and Haafhd (2004) provided his yard with glory in the colts' equivalent. He also won the 1994 St Leger with Moonax. Hills' fantastic achievements are not confined to British shores, highlighted by five Irish Classic triumphs - including the 1987 Irish Derby winner Sir Harry Lewis. He has also saddled Group One winners in France and Italy among a total of 46 top-level successes, with one of his greatest victories coming when Rheingold claimed the 1973 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The trainer spent the first 17 years of his training career in Lambourn before transferring to Manton in Wiltshire - but moved back to Lambourn in 1990. Hills is also a Cheltenham Festival-winning handler, having trained 1992 Stayers' Hurdle hero Nomadic Way. Hills added: "It has been a long journey, but I've enjoyed it - I have trained for some wonderful people over the years. "Hopefully we will have a few more before I eventually retire. "When that is, we'll wait and see. "People often ask me which winners I most remember and I always feel that they all count - even the little ones make a difference." Michael Hills was also quick to salute the achievements of his father. "Chapter And Verse will be famous now, and he'll have one of the biggest pictures up at home," said the jockey. "It's a fantastic achievement by Dad and he's a wonderful trainer. "His winners have come in all shapes and sizes. "This one didn't win by far, and we had a bit of luck at the end, but you need that in this game. "I'm really proud to have ridden the 3,000th winner. "We said at the start of the season it would be great if either me or my brother Richard could do it. "It's also good that it came in Jack Hanson's colours, as he has been with us for years." Assistant handler Charlie Hills, also a son of the trainer, added: "I'm sure my Dad will be delighted. "It was 10 years ago when he had his 2,000th winner, and that was with a horse called Summer Bounty. "This horse (Chapter And Verse) found the ground a bit quick and is still very green. "I think Michael thought he had more horse under him than he actually did, but he'll improve an awful lot for that." Hanson is a long-time patron of Hills' yard and was thrilled the Lambourn maestro reached the 3,000-winner landmark in his colours. He said: "Obviously I'm very pleased. "I don't know exactly how many winners he's had for me, but I should think it's over 100."
