Background
Higgins was born in Koondrook, Victoria and grew up in the southern New South Wales town of Deniliquin where, in 1953, he was apprenticed to local horse trainer Jim Watters.
Higgins was born in Koondrook, Victoria and grew up in the southern New South Wales town of Deniliquin where, in 1953, he was apprenticed to local horse trainer Jim Watters.
His talent in the saddle was to later earn him the nickname "The Professor". Some of the horses he was associated with were Gunsynd, Leilani, Storm Queen, Sir Dane and Big Philou. Higgins" last race ride was at Flemington in October 1983, after which he declared his ambition was “to be a little fat man”.
He continued to be employed in the racing industry as a commentator on television and radio, particularly on Melbourne radio.
He also lectured in the jockey training program at the Northern Lodge Training Centre of the Northern Melbourne Institute of Technical and Further Education. Higgins was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987. Higgins died in Melbourne on 8 March 2014, aged 75, following a short illness.
In the June 1974 Queen"s Birthday, Higgins was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to "Horse racing as a jockey".