Once, Michael Hills’ job was getting the best out of a horse. Today, as a jockey coach, it’s getting the best out of the person on top of one. He’s gone from making the headlines to shaping the riders who will.
Based at Peter O’sullevan House in Newmarket, his afternoons are spent guiding everyone from Pony Racing hopefuls to ambitious apprentices and seasoned professionals rebuilding after injury. The simulators may be modern, but the lessons are as old as the sport itself. His classroom is as varied as the jockeys who walk through the door, and every session is another chance to pass on a lifetime of experience.
I know from reading your dad’s book, Frankincense and More, that Steve Cauthen was a big influence on you growing up. What did you take from watching him?
“Yes. When Steve came over to ride for Dad, Richard and I were 15. In his first season, he won the Guineas. We used to play golf with Steve and, afterwards, we’d take the ponies down to the starting stalls, jump them out of the gates and race them. But the best thing was that, when he first came over, he brought this massive trunk full of kit. For me and Rich, it was like walking into the best sweet shop you’d ever seen. There were whips, goggles, caliente hats, silks – everything. Because Richard and I only weighed about five stone and Steve probably weighed about 8st 8lb, we’d usually beat him on the ponies. Whenever we did, he’d let us choose something from the trunk. We became really good friends and, from then on, we watched everything he did. Richard and I started riding ourselves a year later.”
What was it about Steve’s riding that you tried to emulate?
“Timing. I try to teach this to the kids as well: always be aware of where you are in the race. We often have headcam footage playing on the big screen while they’re riding the simulator, and I tell them to keep an eye on where the furlong markers are because there’s so much going on. It’s all about getting to the finish with as much energy as possible.”
It’s hard to replicate riding a horse, but what do riders gain from the simulator sessions?
“Style, balance and technique. Having soft hands is so important. You’ve got to make the horse like you and stay in rhythm. They’re basically the same principles that Fred Archer was probably taught when he first started. The beauty of the simulator is that you can physically put riders in the right position. At home, you can’t really practise pushing a horse or using your whip, so the simulator bridges that gap before they take those skills onto the racecourse.
I used to practise on a bale of straw in the barn. These days, with the simulators, there’s no excuse – you should be able to use your whip confidently in both hands. I film the riders during each session so they can see the improvement for themselves. Sometimes you don’t realise what you’re doing wrong until you see it on screen, and that’s when the changes really start to happen.
A lot of trainers now film their horses’ work, so riders often bring me gallop videos that we can go through together. I’m like Switzerland – I can say, “You could have done this,” or, “You should have switched your stick there.” Trainers are watching the horse and the race from a different perspective, whereas I’m focused purely on the rider. Those post-race debriefs are where the biggest improvements are made because the quickest way to learn is from your mistakes.
As for the tracks, I rode for 32 years. They might water them differently now, but fundamentally they’re the same. Goodwood has always been one of the trickiest tracks to ride. We even used to have a sweepstake in the weighing room on how many days’ suspensions we’d all collect during the week. I’d normally go for about 25 days in total, sometimes 30.”
Is there anything you wish you’d known earlier in your own career that you now try to pass on?
“Get a good accountant. Looking after your money is vital, but you don’t always realise that until you’ve had a big fall or you’re ready to buy a house. I often pass on the names of people who can help.”
You were champion apprentice yourself in 1983. Seven of the last ten champion apprentices have been based in Newmarket, and it looks as though Jack Callan is set to be champion apprentice this year.
“Jack is very good. He was brought up in a racing family, with his father riding in Hong Kong for ten years, which is a very intense environment. He absorbed an awful lot before he even started riding, and that showed because he really knew his way around a racecourse early on. He’s a lovely rider. He wants to learn, and he’s been taught to ride with his body rather than relying too much on the whip. He’ll be extremely hard to beat. George Boughey is a powerful yard to have behind you, he could end up with a champion jockey in Billy Loughnane, a champion apprentice in Jack Callan, and a champion miler in Bow Echo, all in the same year, which is quite a rare feat. They both are regular faces in the gym, and what a great young team they are.
And it doesn’t stop once the apprenticeship is over. I still have a very strong relationship with Cieren Fallon and Marco Ghiani, both former champion apprentices who are flying along this season and both utilise the facilities here. A lot of them keep in touch. If they get suspended, they’ll often ask my opinion on whether they should appeal because, again, I can look at it from a neutral point of view.”
Peter O’Sullevan House is described as a forward-thinking place. What do you think makes it so valuable for jockeys?
“It’s unbelievable, from the physical side to the mental health support. There’s always someone to talk to, and it’s like a hive of activity. You never know who you’re going to bump into, but we’re all interested in the same thing. It’s nice to discuss racing, whatever’s happening in the news, and everyone has an opinion. It’s just a lovely place to meet.
The gym is as good as it gets, and I really enjoy being here. I’ve got a really good bunch of apprentices. It’s not just Jack – Mason Paetel is also very good. It’s incredibly rewarding watching them take on board your advice and then seeing them put it into practice on the racecourse. I enjoy watching them grow and improve as riders.”
“Your connection with Somerville Lodge is quite unique. You were born in the house on the yard, rode Shaamit to Derby victory for William Haggas and still ride out there today.”
“Yes, Richard and I were born in the yard. My father was travelling head lad to John Oxley, and we were there until I was about six years old. That’s when we moved to Lambourn and Dad started training.
When I was 16, I got sent to Jeremy Hindley’s at Clarehaven. Two weeks before I arrived, they got a new assistant trainer and his name was William Haggas. The first job he was given was to book my rides, so I met William at the very start of my career. It’s strange when you first meet people because you never quite know the impact they’ll have on your life. We’ve been pals ever since. To then go on and ride him a Derby winner was quite spooky, really.
I still love riding out there today and seeing how far it’s grown. I’ve really been on the whole journey with them. I rode William’s first winner, Tricky Note, at Newmarket, so I’ve been there from the very beginning, which is lovely.”
This article was kindly written for the Injured Jockeys Fund by Georgia Cox.
