Chris Riggs

Director, HKJC Equine Welfare Research Foundation
Chief Advisor, Mainland Veterinary Engagement, The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Chris studied Veterinary Science at the University of Bristol, UK in the early nineteen eighties. He received further training in Equine Surgery at the Royal Veterinary College, UK and was awarded a PhD for research into topics relating to the causes of racehorse fractures in 1991. He subsequently worked as a Senior Lecturer at the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, University of Liverpool, where he developed specialist skills in equine surgery. He gained further clinical experience at several equine referral centres in the United Kingdom and Australia before joining The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) as Head of Veterinary Clinical Services in 2003. He was appointed to a new role in the Club as Director, HKJC Equine Welfare Research Foundation/ Chief Advisor, Mainland Veterinary Engagement in 2019.

Chris has a particular interest, and specialist qualifications, in surgery and orthopaedics. He has published over 85 scientific papers about the fatigue of bone and its role in racehorse fractures, as well as other topics. He also cares deeply about helping to provide opportunities for young colleagues to further their clinical skills, particularly in Mainland China.

Chris is a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, UK and holds positions as Adjunct Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Special Professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, UK and Guest Professor at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University.