Death of Arcadian Heights and Dragon Dancer owner at 98
Sir Mark Prescott remembers the longstanding breeder and owner
John Pearce, a breeder and owner for 80 years, who made a famous escape from Japanese-held Hong Kong during the war, has died peacefully in his sleep at his Newmarket flat. He was 98.
John Leitch Colmere Pearce was born, brought up and lived in Hong Kong, often spending his summers at his Jockey Club flat in Newmarket.
His interest in racing had been fostered by spending his school holidays with his parent’s great friend John Johnstone, who maintained a private stable between the two wars at Halleaths in Dumfriesshire, from where he rode and trained with significant success.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on 18 January 2017inNews
Last updated 18:31, 18 January 2017
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement
- Kieran Shoemark lands another plum Meydan ride for Gosden stable on Trawlerman in Saturday's Dubai Gold Cup
- The latest edition of the Racing Post is available to read online now - here's how you can access it
- How Smart View recorded a 76 per cent profit at the Cheltenham Festival
- Smart View is available on the Racing Post app - how to read the revolutionary new racecard
- Levy reform talks 'accelerating' as clock ticks down to April deadline for agreement
- Kieran Shoemark lands another plum Meydan ride for Gosden stable on Trawlerman in Saturday's Dubai Gold Cup