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Flat jockey Ronald Patrick Hillis was born in Barntown, County Wexford on November 23, 1967. Although there had been no family history of horse racing, Ron and his two-years elder brother John were lured into the sport on the back of their father’s abiding interest in the sport.
Flat jockey Ronald Patrick Hillis was born in Barntown, County Wexford on November 23, 1967. Although there had been no family history of horse racing, Ron and his two-years elder brother John were lured into the sport on the back of their father’s abiding interest in the sport.
Ron initially wanted to be a carpenter and attended Wexford Vocational School with that prospect in mind. However, he soon gave up notions of carpentry when he got the opportunity to follow his brother in entering RACE, the Racing Academy & Centre of Education, in Kildare.
Ron initially wanted to be a carpenter and attended Wexford Vocational School with that prospect in mind. However, he soon gave up notions of carpentry when he got the opportunity to follow his brother in entering RACE, the Racing Academy & Centre of Education, in Kildare.
Having graduated with flying colours from there, both boys were initially apprenticed for 12 months to Dermot Weld at the Curragh. John then joined Paddy Mullins’ stable while Ron became indentured to Kevin Connolly and spent the next four years establishing himself as one of Ireland’s best young claimers.
Having graduated with flying colours from there, both boys were initially apprenticed for 12 months to Dermot Weld at the Curragh. John then joined Paddy Mullins’ stable while Ron became indentured to Kevin Connolly and spent the next four years establishing himself as one of Ireland’s best young claimers.
His first victory came on a horse named Oaklawn King, the 20-1 outsider of five in a Bellewstown apprentices’ race in 1983. He went on to win the Unidare Irish Champion Apprentice title in 1985. He scored his most important success on 20-1 shot Colonel James in the 1987 Irish Lincolnshire and rattled up a total of 26 winners.
His first victory came on a horse named Oaklawn King, the 20-1 outsider of five in a Bellewstown apprentices’ race in 1983. He went on to win the Unidare Irish Champion Apprentice title in 1985. He scored his most important success on 20-1 shot Colonel James in the 1987 Irish Lincolnshire and rattled up a total of 26 winners.
The problem was that, for all his success, in Ireland there were too many jockeys and not enough racing, making opportunities hard to come by. That being the case, he moved to Britain in February 1988 and joined Reg Akehurst’s stable. He had to wait until June 6 before finally breaking the ice in Britain, on Akehurst’s three-year-old colt Lordship in the BBC South Stakes at Goodwood.
The problem was that, for all his success, in Ireland there were too many jockeys and not enough racing, making opportunities hard to come by. That being the case, he moved to Britain in February 1988 and joined Reg Akehurst’s stable. He had to wait until June 6 before finally breaking the ice in Britain, on Akehurst’s three-year-old colt Lordship in the BBC South Stakes at Goodwood.
Twelve days later, June 18, he rode the Reg Akehurst-trained Roubayd to win the two-mile Holsten Pils Handicap at Ascot. The following month, on July 22, over the same course and distance, Ron steered Roubayd to victory in the Brown Jack Handicap. He finished the season with a total of ten winners from 109 rides.
Twelve days later, June 18, he rode the Reg Akehurst-trained Roubayd to win the two-mile Holsten Pils Handicap at Ascot. The following month, on July 22, over the same course and distance, Ron steered Roubayd to victory in the Brown Jack Handicap. He finished the season with a total of ten winners from 109 rides.
The following year, Ron left Epsom for Newmarket and became apprenticed to Geoff Huffer. However, having ridden seven winners that season, he left in August 1989 to ride in Macau for Irish trainer Mrs Florence Mills. He returned in 1990 and rode for Bryan McMahon, again following the path trod by his brother John who had joined McMahon’s stable in 1986. Ron notched 12 winners in 1990, including three long-riced winners in successive days in August: 9-1 chance Electrojet at Leicester and 33-1 outsider Candesco at Southwell, both for McMahon, and 14-1 shot Pim’s Gunner at Yarmouth for William Haggas. He won again on Candesco back at Southwell later that month.
The following year, Ron left Epsom for Newmarket and became apprenticed to Geoff Huffer. However, having ridden seven winners that season, he left in August 1989 to ride in Macau for Irish trainer Mrs Florence Mills. He returned in 1990 and rode for Bryan McMahon, again following the path trod by his brother John who had joined McMahon’s stable in 1986. Ron notched 12 winners in 1990, including three long-riced winners in successive days in August: 9-1 chance Electrojet at Leicester and 33-1 outsider Candesco at Southwell, both for McMahon, and 14-1 shot Pim’s Gunner at Yarmouth for William Haggas. He won again on Candesco back at Southwell later that month.
Ron’s tally of winners slumped to just four in 1991. He had only 17 mounts in 1992 and no winners. His last two rides came on Clive Brittain’s two-year-old Lagen on Newmarket’s July Course, the second of those being in the Slip Anchor Maiden Stakes on June 27, 1992, finishing fifth of seven. He was still claiming 3lb at the time but his apprenticeship finished later that year.
Ron’s tally of winners slumped to just four in 1991. He had only 17 mounts in 1992 and no winners. His last two rides came on Clive Brittain’s two-year-old Lagen on Newmarket’s July Course, the second of those being in the Slip Anchor Maiden Stakes on June 27, 1992, finishing fifth of seven. He was still claiming 3lb at the time but his apprenticeship finished later that year.
He held a professional jockey’s licence for just one season in 1993 but did not have any rides. Instead, he left Britain to continue his career in Germany. However, on July 3, 1994, he suffered severe head injuries in a race fall at Hamburg which ended his career and left him disabled.
He held a professional jockey’s licence for just one season in 1993 but did not have any rides. Instead, he left Britain to continue his career in Germany. However, on July 3, 1994, he suffered severe head injuries in a race fall at Hamburg which ended his career and left him disabled.
He now lives in New York. His brother John went on to forge a successful riding career in Germany, amassing some 450 winners before retiring in 2007.
He now lives in New York. His brother John went on to forge a successful riding career in Germany, amassing some 450 winners before retiring in 2007.
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