Arkell to succeed Buckley as clerk of the course at Goodwood

Ed Arkell has been appointed as clerk of the course at Goodwood, succeeding long-standing clerk Seamus Buckley, who retires at the end of the year. The pair will work together as joint clerks through the Qatar Goodwood Festival and the remaining fixtures in 2017.

Arkell, 36, is currently the Arena Racing Company (ARC) regional clerk for the south, looking after five courses, including Fontwell and Lingfield. He was also responsible for the race programme for the successful All-Weather Championships, and has represented ARC on various industry committees.

As Arkell has also assisted Buckley at Goodwood through the last ten festivals the news will surprise few, but confirmation is timely, with the 2017 festival just four weeks away.

Arkell said: "I’m delighted to be joining Goodwood as clerk of the course, one of the best jobs in racing. I’m very much looking forward to the challenge of producing an exceptional racing surface and continuing to develop the race programme to attract the best horses in the world. Goodwood is a truly special place with fantastic racing and heritage.”

Buckley, who next month will be officiating at his 23rd ‘Glorious Goodwood’ Qatar Goodwood Festival, is respected throughout the industry and will be a tough act to follow, but Arkell has his blessing. He said: "I am really delighted that Ed is taking over from me at Goodwood. I have known him a long time and he has, for the last ten years, kindly assisted me over the Qatar Goodwood Festival and his help has been invaluable.

"Ed is a very forward and modern thinking person, yet still holds the very important old fashioned values, for example, where the horse always comes first. I wish him all the best of luck and hope he enjoys Goodwood as much as I have."

Arc's racing director Jon Pullin said: "Ed has made an enormously valuable contribution over his decade with Northern Racing and latterly Arc. We wish him all the very best in his new role at Goodwood.

"We are currently reviewing our clerking structure as we make plans for Ed's replacement."

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