THE HON. JAMES WHITE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 166, 16 July 1890, Page 3

THE HON. JAMES WHITE.

There will be universal regret at the death of the Hon. James White. His name was a household word throughout New Zealand. It can hardly be said his end was unexpected, for deceased had been prostrated for a long period by an illness from which there was no tiope of recovery, Mr White was a typical turfite, and he loved racing and breeding the thoroughbred for its own sweet sake, not the profit to be derived from it. To him the turf was a means whereby he gained pleasant recreation, and hie death leaves a very big blank in the Australian turf world that- will be hard to fill. Mr White's success in racing and breeding has been nothing short of phenomenal, due, no doubfc, in a great measure to the fact that in solectine blood he invariably chose members of families which have been winners on the turf. His wealth enabled him to never stop at a price when be made up his mind to buy, but at the same time he was always judicious in his purchases. I gather from back records that Mr White commenced in a very small way as a racing man. The first horse that flaunted in the breeze the famous M blue and white" wad -a steeplechaser named Hotepur, who won more than one race over the big fences, and this induced Mr White tp fly at higher game, «nd subsequently be purchased Democrat; (a son of Gemma di Vergy) and Chester. He had refused Chester as a, yearling,, but af&er the colt had shown excellent two-year-old form, he became his property. Mr White'e first venture with Chester, in the A. J. C. Derby of 1877, was nob successful, for he suffered defeat at the hands of Woodlands. Afterwards Chester was sent to Melbourne, and the horse electrified, the racing world by pulling off the double of the Victorian Derby and Melbourne Cup, also the Mares' Produce Stakes, thus laying the foundation of the famous Kirkhatn stable. Chester did further good service for Mr White, for the same season he annexed the V.R.C. Town JPlate, A.J.C. Cumberland Plate, -Atid A.J.C. Plate. ..At four years he A.J.C.. Spring Stakes, Craven Plate, and RandwicW Plate, V.X.C. Melbourne Stakes, A. J.~C. '* Autumn •' Stakes, Cumberland Stakes, and A.J.C Plate ; at five years, the A.J.C. Spring Stakes ; and at six years the V.R.C. Melbourne Stakes, retiring after running unplaced with 9st 61b up in the Melbourne Cup -won by Grand Flaneur, 6sb 101b, In 1883, Mr White, again won the Victorian Derby and Melbourne Cup with Martini-Henry, and the Auckland-bred colfc was also successful in the V.R.C. Mares' Produce Stakes arid St. Leger. It would take np too much space recount the many successes of the~ Kirkham, stable atd the many " cracks " that have tenanted the boxes ; but strange to say, although Mr White's great ambition, he was unable to win the V.R.C. Champion Stake 3 till the Auckland-bred Matchlock proved victorious in 1886. In connection with this event, he suffered two great reverses by the defeate of Chester and Marfcini-Henry in their respective 'years. From the moment Chester won the Melbourne Derby and Cup he was regarded a certainty, but he went down before First King, whom some enthusiastic Australians still declare wan a better horse than Carbine, our present turf hero. Altogether, eince Mr White commenced racing in 1877, ©very-great race in Australia, barring the Caulfield Cup and Hawkesbury Handicap, have at one time or other been appropriated by horses running in hie colours. His record as far as the rich races are concerned j g ii Derbyo. 8 Legers, 3 Champions; 3 jMaribyrnong Plates, 3 V.R C. Oaks 3 Australian Cups, 3 Metropolitans,' 2 Melbourne Cups 4 Ascob Vale Stakes, 1 Newmarket Handicap, 1 Sydney Cup-an astounding record—while his winnings in stakes during hU turf connection must tot up to considerably over £100,000. Tha horses trained for 14r White by the late Mr M. Fennelly alone won £66,400. An unfortunate circumstance in connection with Mr Whites death is the facb that according to the English rules of racing thfe whole of the engagements of Kirkhnm, Nartllan, Wentworth, Mons Me°-, and Nepean in the Old Country become void by the death of the nominator. Altogether, the Australian turf loses its brightest pillar, and a grand oid man, who was liked by all who knew him. The writer* will riever forget jmany kindnesses deceased' showed toward? lira while on. a holiday 'visit to Sydney, jjghtly rest the turf on James White.