Death of Arcadian Heights and Dragon Dancer owner at 98

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.