Higgins to leave Arc for Hong Kong Jockey Club

Arena Racing Company director Stephen Higgins is set to leave the racecourse group in July to join the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

He is due to take up the position of head of raceday operations, tracks and racing facilities at the HKJC, where he will be joining his former boss at Arc, Tony Kelly, who is executive director for racing business and operations there.

Higgins, Arc's racing and property director, joined the company in January 2015, having previously been managing director at Newbury racecourse and before that Wincanton.

He said: "I've really enjoyed my time at Arc and will be sad to leave the extremely talented team here.

"However, working with the Hong Kong Jockey Club and being responsible for racing activity at Sha Tin and Happy Valley, together with the new training facility at Conghua, provides an exciting opportunity for me that was too good to miss."

Arc chief executive Martin Cruddace thanked Higgins for his work at the company.

He said: "Stephen has made a significant contribution to Arc, most notably helping deliver several large infrastructure projects, including the all-weather track at Newcastle and a new grandstand at Bath, and we wish him all the best for future success. We will update on plans for Stephen’s replacement in due course."