The Racing Life of Diana Hobbs

Diana Hobbs couldn’t be more linked to racing. ‘I was lucky to grow up at Sandhill Racing Stables with two older sisters, Caroline and Katherine,’ explains Di, 36. ‘My parents Philip and Sarah Hobbs started training in 1985 with six horses and have now trained over 3,000 winners. A couple of years ago, Johnson White joined the training licence, which is duly well deserved after being assistant trainer for over thirty years.’

Di’s description of her family is quietly humble. Father Philip has trained winners at the biggest meetings, his nineteen at the Cheltenham Festival including a Champion Hurdle and a Champion Chase. Mum Sarah, daughter of five-time Olympic gold medallist Bertie Hill, followed in his footsteps by representing England in eventing as well as being an amateur jockey.

‘The best three years of my life’ is how Di describes studying at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. She graduated with a degree in International Equine and Agricultural Land and Business Management. ‘I would highly recommend it! Great friends for life with similar interests. Lots of riding out, hunting with the VWH, racing at Cheltenham, playing hockey and attending occasional lectures!'

Now living in Carhampton, Somerset, Di’s life took a massive transformation when she and her fiancé Tom Baker had their daughter over a year ago. ‘She’s called Amelia, which we shorten to Milly. I’m biased, but she is adorable and we love being parents!’ They also own a Labrador Baloo and, at the racing stables, there are two terriers called Archie and Digby.

Building on her horsey dynasty, Di has forged her own, successful path. She combines working in the racing office with being a mother, and will pass the love of racehorses and skill of riding onto the next generation.

Did you have a horsey childhood? Growing up in Bilbrook near Minehead, Somerset, my sisters and I were very lucky to have ponies, which were passed down to me when they outgrew them. Aged about ten, I was more interested in going fast up the gallops on the racehorses, than Pony Club camp. So, I rode out and began point-to-pointing at sixteen, which I loved and met some great friends along the way.

Tom and I would love Milly to have a horsey childhood like we both did, as it keeps them out in the fresh air and away from tablets. At the moment though, she enjoys riding the dog, which is much more affordable!

Were you a jockey? I was a very average amateur jockey, but my sister and I were very lucky and well supported. We also had lots of fun along the way with some outside rides too. I had twenty winners and Katherine had twenty-five! My third in a Hunter Chase at Stratford- upon-Avon races was really fun.

Saint Romble - a true family horse

Describe getting on the Godolphin Flying Start: When I graduated from university with a 2:1 degree, I applied to GFS but it was not the best time. I had had a bad fall point-to-pointing and was in a back brace. I got an interview at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, and subsequently didn’t get on GFS. However, Clodagh Kavanagh (the manager) was great and offered feedback on the interview, saying I needed more bloodstock and Flat racing experience.

Still determined to give the Flat racing world a go, I got a job at in the office at Highclere Stud with John Warren, as well as working with the yearlings, mares and foals at the Newmarket Tattersalls sales, which I loved. I then got onto the Irish National Stud Breeding Course for six months during the breeding season, with stallion coverings, foaling, yearlings etc, which was fantastic. I also rode out for trainers at the Curragh, which was a great experience.

I then had another GFS interview at Kildangan Stud in Kildare, Ireland and got on the program starting that August 2012-2014. It was an amazing experience (both practical and theory) in England, Ireland, America, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, with work placements in each country, which was the best bit about it.

Roles in racing: During university, I rode out at various trainers to keep fit while riding in point-to-points: Nigel Twiston-Davies, Oliver Sherwood, Emma Lavelle, David Pipe and Peter Mason. I loved seeing the various training yards and different routines.

After the Godolphin Flying Start program, I was pupil assistant to Charlie Hill’s in Lambourn for two years. I loved the contrast of a Flat yard with the progeny coming through and the younger horses, compared to Jump racing. Although Jump racing was where my heart was! I was lucky to take a horse Jallota to race in Dubai for the Spring carnival. It was a great experience riding on the Meydan racetrack.

For the past ten years, I have worked at Sandhill Racing Stables, running syndicates, doing the annual owner’s brochure, general office admin, newsletters and social media, and taking photos and videos to keep owners updated. 

Favourite racehorses: On the Flat in the past was Frankel (electric and now an amazing sire) and in the present is Rebel’s Romance (18 wins out of 26 races and £11 million in prize money!).

Over Jumps in the past was Rooster Booster (Dad’s 2003 Champion Hurdle winner) and in the present is Livin On Luco (a syndicate horse, who is very tough and deserves to win again soon).

Point-to-point will always be Saint Romble, a legend who was both my sister and I’s first winner.

Favourite meeting: The Countryside Day at Cheltenham in November meeting countryside day. It’s less busy than the Festival in March and always a good chance to catch up with old friends.

Every year, my sisters and I try to go to the Aintree Grand National meeting and I would love for the stables to win a Grand National. We’ve been second twice and third once, so surely deserve a winner soon?!

Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood are the best of UK Flat racing.

Favourite jockey: Ryan Moore is fantastic on the Flat and Harry Cobden is very good over jumps… Good horses make good jockeys!

Favourite overnighter: When I worked on the Flat, I loved visiting Chester. It’s a unique racecourse and the people in the North are very friendly people.

Who do you admire in racing? Aidan O’Brien is a genius, especially with the pressure he is under with the well-bred horses he trains and the value they carry, especially when they retire to breeding.

I admire my parents for working hard for forty years and training an amazing 3,000 winners. Plus, they have kept loyal owners that have horses for years and senior staff that have worked at Sandhill since I was a toddler.

Best days in racing so far: You will never forget your first winner and I was lucky to ride a winner Saint Romble and a second on Wave Rock on my first rides at Chipley park.

Balthazar King and Defi Du Seuil winning at the Cheltenham Festival for Dad were pretty amazing days.

What do you love about racing? At lot of people love racing and I think the coverage of it is very good on ITV Racing, especially behind the scenes, interviewing the stable staff and owners (which they should do more) as owners pay for the sport. 

Jump racing is very friendly and racecourses have got a lot better at looking after owners.

Where could improvements be made to racing? More lower grade races for horses, as there are lots in training and horses get balloted out, especially when racing is postponed due to bad weather.

Best racing celebration so far: The Rooster Booster Champion Hurdle party at the pub, with too much alcohol consumed!

After being runner up to AP McCoy for so many years, we had a Richard Johnson championship party at Sandhill with owners and fellow jockeys invited, which was good fun and so well deserved. 

How do you juggle working in racing and having a family? At the moment, Milly is having a mid-morning and mid-afternoon nap, so I get the laptop out and am currently working on the Horses In Training 2025-26 owner’s brochure. When I go up to the gallops for photos and videos, I strap her to me.

She starts nursery in September and we are lucky the government funding will help with expensive nursery fees during term time!

Has becoming a mum changed you in any way? We love it and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Hopes and aspirations for the future: In the future, we would like to rent the North Yard at Sandhill Racing Stables (which has eighteen stables) and have a mixture of horses, maybe some point-to-pointers, syndicate horses, Flat and Jump-bred foals and yearlings to sell on and do a bit of pinhooking. And, obviously, a pony for Milly!

Favourite meal: Roast Chicken and lots of vegetables.

Favourite drink: I love a good cup of tea or coffee early morning. Sauvignon blanc wine with an ice cube.

Favourite snack: Crisps.

Favourite holiday destination: In summer, I love Devon or Cornwall and in winter, I love a good ski resort in France.

Favourite film: Love Actually – it’s feel-good and Christmasy.

Favourite book: Anything by Jilly Cooper.

Favourite music: I loved watching Ed Sheeran at Glastonbury and listening to old classics and anything on the radio.

Other hobbies and interests: I play hockey and enjoy beating and picking up in the winter with my black lab. I also love swimming and long walks in the summer.