“An incredible man, one of the greatest characters”

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

“He lived and breathed the racing industry,” said Paul Moroney, who described his mentor and long-time friend as “an incredible man, one of the great characters.” Growing up in Wanganui, where he would cycle to the 1200m start at the local racecourse, Jim’s interest in thoroughbreds began at an early age.

At a time when there were no veterinary school options in New Zealand, Jim spent a year studying medicine at Victoria University of Wellington before successfully applying for a position at a university in Brisbane.

“He was top of his class and graduated with honors,” Paul said.

Returning to Wanganui before moving to Waikato, Jim joined Colin Thompson in his practice where the majority of the work was dairy cows, although there were a few hundred horses working in Matamata.

Focus on horses

Jim became a partner in this business in 1966, which later became Marks Ewen and Associates. For many years it was a dairy and equine business, until 2000 when the team has focused solely on horses.

Jim was known for his in-depth study of the latest procedures and techniques and was the first vet in New Zealand to perform a tie-back ventilation operation. He was also one of those who introduced the ECG to New Zealand and became world renowned in this field.

“He was ahead of his time in many ways,” Paul said, “a pioneer.”

“He was one of the first in Australasia to convince coaches of the value of blood testing, showing them that it could be useful in determining fitness levels while also highlighting underlying problems that might not have been detected.”

Paul remembers Dave O’Sullivan and Jim Marks as a formidable team: “a top coach and a revolutionary vet. They had real synergy and achieved amazing results.”

One of Jim’s greatest pleasures, Paul said, was being present at Fuchu Racecourse when O’Sullivan was training. Horlicks (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}) won the G1 Japan Cup in 1989.

“Later in life he really began to enjoy international travel and he helped us buy horses in England and France.”

Paul is grateful to Jim for his wisdom and ability to pass on his knowledge.

Help, not hinder

“He was always there to help and not to hinder, and it took a long time for someone to get out of their comfort zone with him. He had a high IQ but was able to express things in simple terms so easily.

“I remember him talking about how the horse’s heart works and comparing it to a car engine. He really had a gift for explaining things.

“He had an incredible way of analyzing injuries and lameness. When he looked at a horse you could see his mind going full throttle and he had what we call ‘X-ray fingers’, it was like a modern CT scan, it was incredible what he could feel with his hands.”

Jim was recognised as an excellent judge of young horses, with Tim Ryan paying tribute to him in the Waikato Times in April 2014 noting that “Jim Marks is more than a vet, he is a rider with a natural feel for horses and he brings that to his profession.”

In 2009, honoured by the New Zealand Equine Veterinary Association with the Brian Goulden Outstanding Veterinarian of the Year Award as well as the Waikato Breeders Association Personality of the Year, Jim was known for always taking the time to pass on his knowledge to others, whether owners, trainers or young vets.

A reluctant breeder

Describing himself as a “reluctant breeder,” Jim found success at the elite level when Juice (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}) won the G1 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeder S. in April 2010; noting on that occasion that he never really intended to breed horses, that it was the by-product of racing and being left with a few mares when they retired.

After selling Juice to John Wheeler for $20,000 at the 2007 New Zealand Bloodstock Carnival yearling sale, he was in Te Aroha to cheer her on that day, telling the press that “it was exciting but I was really only there for the day, I didn’t expect her to win, John did a fantastic job with her.”

Jim also bred Matamata Cup winning dam Juice Call Minder (NZ) (Christmas Tree) and Juice’s success in the Breeders’ race was a third win in this race for mares bred by Jim who also bred (and owned) the 1990 and 1991 winner Waikiki (NZ) (Crested Wave {USA}) when this race was run at Group 2 level.

Waikiki won seven other races including the G3 Dulcie S. and the G3 Clifford Plate, while Juice also won several stakes races with a Group 3 victory and a couple of Listed races joining her on her Group 1 resume.

Waikiki would go on to produce four winners, including the stakes-placed granddam of the G1 winner of the New Zealand Oaks Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) while Juice was also represented by four winners including the dam of Listed winning Perth galloper Man crush (Manhattan Rain).

Group 1 success

Jim also enjoyed Group 1 success as an owner, with Paul Moroney proud to have selected the Otaki-Maori S winner for him as a yearling. This is my sin (NZ) (Success Express {USA}), from whom Jim co-bred the Michael Moroney-trained G2 Chairman’s H., winner and two-time runner-up in the G1 Sydney Cup. Divine Rebel (New Zealand) (Don Eduardo {New Zealand}).

Other fine horses bred or raced by Jim include G3 Cambridge Breeders S winner. Copper Mountain (NZ) (Jetball), Juice’s four-time winning grandmother Young Gaye (NZ) (St Hilarion {USA}), the broodmare successfully placed in Group 3 Bali Sugar (NZ) (Christmas Tree), G1 placed Captain Kurt (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), the elegant sweater Ore Chief (NZ) (Denagh {GB}), the five-time placed Group 3 winner Kohinoor (NZ) (Bigstone {Ire}) and the winner of the G1 Brisbane Cup Bermadez (New Zealand) (El Khobar {New Zealand}).

Owner of Hinuera Lodge, a training and accommodation farm in Matamata (which until its sale was the base of trainers Vanessa and Wayne Hillis), Jim built it into a successful business, with Paul recalling it as “one of the most popular farms in the district”.

Paul is one of many who take comfort in knowing that Jim’s life was well lived. “He touched so many lives. He had a great sense of humor and lived life to the fullest. He was quick-witted and young at heart. He loved to have fun and was often referred to as the oldest teenager in the country!”