Tim Husbands is to leave his position as CEO of Leopardstown Racecourse in April 2025 after five successful years in the role.
He joined the track as CEO in January 2020, bringing with him a strong track record in the leisure and tourism industry, most notably as former CEO of the Titanic Experience in Belfast.
In his time, he led the Leopardstown Racecourse and Golf Centre teams very successfully, guiding the track through the Covid era and back into full operation.
Racegoer attendances for the major festivals increased as did the levels of commercial sponsorship.
He also oversaw the completion of a number of key capital development schemes that delivered improved facilities for both racegoers and racing professionals, enhancing the racegoer experience even further, as most recently was seen at the Christmas and Dublin Racing Festivals.
On the track, he oversaw recent improvements in the provision of irrigation systems and succeeded last year in attracting two Japanese runners to the Irish Champions Festival, ensuring that the Irish Champion Stakes in particular maintained both its global profile and its international status in the list of the top ten of the World’s leading Group 1 races.
“It was a real privilege for me to lead Leopardstown Racecourse over the last five years and I have been very proud of our achievements during that time – it is very much a team effort at the racecourse,” he said.
“I have had brilliant support both from my very skilled and experienced staff on site but also from everyone I came into contact within the industry, whether HRI, our Clerk of the Course, trainer, jockey, and media.”
“The industry works best when it works together – and I have to say that is what I have found since day one. I thank each and every one for that and will miss that sense of camaraderie. Leopardstown is one of the top tracks in Europe, and I am glad that I have played my part in maintaining that position in my five years.”
“Tim brought a high level of experience in event management and a keen focus on customer experience to his role at Leopardstown and he certainly delivered in so many key areas at the racecourse and across the overall Leopardstown campus,” said Paul Dermody, CEO HRI Racecourses.
“Everyone at HRI wishes him the very best in the years ahead and thank him for his contribution to the industry.”
“The process to find Tim’s replacement at Leopardstown Racecourse will begin in the coming weeks.”
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
It was a great way to go on the back of two successful Festivals at the track over the last six weeks and Husbands leaves Leopardstown in a better place than he found it, continuing the tradition of doing so set by Pat Keogh and Tony Corcoran before him.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The search for a replacement will commence shortly..
MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS
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