Hillis Racing

08/08/2025

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

A couple of the team having a quiet work out yesterday up our home 1000m plough. The outside one ridden by the premiership winning jockey Craig Grylls ( s**t I can’t even get jockeys to ride at the track for me 😂😂)
The last one with the on board camera ridden by yours truly 😄

07/07/2025

Our consistent & very underrated “Drop of Something” scored his 5th win(7th all up)on Saturday at Te Rapa since his first win for us on this day last year, & in that time has also had 2 x 2nds, 2x 3rds, 2x 4ths & 3x 5ths.
He has come through the race well & ate everything Saturday night.
The main aim is the Taumarunui Cup, with maybe a run before then at Taranaki on the 19th
He’s such a laid back cool horse ,
We love ya “Red”
Very gutsy effort

31/01/2025

You scratch my back & I’ll scratch yours 😀
Yesterday they didn’t know each other,
Today they are BFFs 😀
Happy with our purchases yesterday 😀

22/09/2024

Huge thumbs up 👍to Taupo Racing Club,
Another new set of tie-up stalls, Such a progressive club, ever time you go there they have done something to improved the facilities & for your owners drink , you can have whatever drink you prefer if they have it,😀not just beer & wine 😝😀
We are happy to have “Hillis Racings” name on the wall of one of the tie-ups as a sponsor.
Keep up the good work Taupo Racing Club 👍

04/08/2024

Tribute to Jim Marks

With the celebration of Jim Marks’ life today , we would like to pay our tribute to the man that was for the last 20 years not only the best boss to work for but also a very close friend & part of our family, calling in most nights for a Bacardi & eating with us 4 to 5 nights a week, & we enjoyed many holidays together.
We had a lot of success together including 4 x Group 3s & 3 x Listed. Although unable to win a Group1, a special moment was Captain Kurt (who you named after our son Kurt) running 2nd in the 2000 Guineas G1 & Habana whom you bred running 3rd in the Sires Produce Stks G1.
Other special moments with horses you bred was Art Beat winning 9 races including the Winter Cup & her sister Perfect Start winning 8 races & running 2nd in the NZ & Wellington Cup & also 3rd again in the Wellington Cup
We clicked from day 1 & had an unbelievable relationship with you & will be for ever thankful for the opportunity you gave us.

RIP Jim ❤️

Wayne Vanessa Simone & Kurt

Marks/Hillis Black Type achievements
1st
Art Beat Winter Cup G3
Perfect Start Trentham Stks G3
Perfect Start Manawatu Cup G3
Dragon Maiden Ford 2yld Classic G3
Art Beat Lion Red Cup Listed
Art Beat Tauranga Classic Listed
Call Minder Matamata Cup Listed

2nds
Captain Kurt 2000 Guineas G1
Captain Kurt Wellington Stks G2
Perfect Start Wellington Cup G2
Perfect Start New Zealand Cup G3
Habana Eclipse Stks G3
Captain Kurt Grt Nth Foal Stks Listed
Livin On A Prayer Pegasus Stks Listed
Smartly Marton Cup Listed
Smartly Rotorua Plate Listed
Vincent Street Bonecrusher Stks Listed

3rds
Habana Sires Produce Stks G1
Habana Wakefield Stks G2
Captain Kurt Hawke’s Bay Guineas G3
Perfect Start Wellington Cup G3
Perfect Start Soliloquy Stks Listed
Perfect Start Manawatu Anzac Stks Listed
Captain Kurt Gold Coast Guineas Listed
Habana Grt Nth Foal Stks Listed
Smartly Jackalberry Classic Listed
Vincent Street Matamata Cup Listed

26/07/2024

READ: Matamata trainer Wayne Hillis is hoping Did The Trick can deliver him a third winner for the week at Te Rapa Racing on Saturday.

https://www.racingnews.co.nz/hillis-hoping-to-keep-winning-momentum-going/

02/04/2023

A blast from the past for us 😀, with one of Emma’s wonderful family that we have had so much success with 🏇🏇🏆🏆🍾🍾🥳🥳
( fastest time in the last 26 years🥳🥳)
James rode him in his next start for a close 2nd in the G2 Hollindale Stks & came a creditable 5th in the Queensland Derby on a heavy track 🥰🥰