Tributes for Port Macquarie trainer Tom Higgins

NSW racing is mourning the loss of Port Macquarie trainer Tom Higgins, who has passed away at the age of 71.

A fixture of the Mid North Coast racing scene for decades, Higgins’ final runner came on his home track at Port Macquarie on July 31 when Charmed Star stepped out, while his final winner arrived a month earlier at Taree, where The Big Ticket was victorious.

His best hose was Sky Biscuit, who won 14 races with both Higgins and Neville Voigt. The stayer finished second in the Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap and Group 2 Brisbane Cup, while also placing third in the Listed McKell Cup and Group 3 Queen’s Cup.

Port Macquarie Race Club have named a race in his honour on Saturday.