Vale Jim Marks: 'An amazing man, one of the great 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 amazing man, one of the great characters.” Growing up in Wanganui where he would ride his bike to the 1200m start at the local race course, Jim had his interest in thoroughbreds sparked early.

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

“He topped the class and graduated with honours,” Paul said.

Returning to Wanganui before ending up in Waikato, Jim joined Colin Thompson at his practice where the majority of the work was with dairy cows though there were a couple of hundred horses in work at Matamata.

Focusing on horses

Jim became partners in that business in 1966, one which eventually became Marks Ewen and Associates. For many years it was a dairy and equine practice, up until 2000; since then the team solely focusing on horses.

Jim was known for his keen study of the latest procedures and techniques and was the first vet in New Zealand to perform a tie-back wind operation. He also one of those to introduce ECGs to New Zealand and became world renowned in that area.

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

“He was one of the first in Australasia to convince trainers of the benefit of blood analysis, showing them that it could be useful in determining levels of fitness whilst also highlighting underlying issues that may not have been picked up on.”

Paul remembers Dave O'Sullivan and Jim Marks being a formidable combination; “a high class trainer and a revolutionary vet. They had a real synergy and had amazing results.”

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

“He really grew to enjoy international travel later in his life 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 not hinder and it took a lot for someone to get offside with him. He had a high IQ but was able to put things in layman's terms so easily.

“I remember him talking about how the horse's heart works and equating it to the engine of a car, he really had the knack for explaining things.

“He had an incredible way of analysing injury and lameness, when he was watching a horse you could see his mind ticking over and he had what we'd call 'x-ray fingers,' they were like a modern day scan, it was amazing what he could feel with his hands.”

Jim was renowned as a great judge of young horses with one tribute by Tim Ryan in the Waikato Times in April 2014 noting that “Jim Marks is more than a vet, he’s a horseman with a natural feel for a horse and he carries that through to his profession.”

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

A reluctant breeder

Describing himself as a “reluctant breeder,” Jim enjoyed 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 set out to breed horses, that it was the by-product of racing horses and ending up with a few mares upon their retirements.

Selling Juice to John Wheeler for $20,000 at the 2007 New Zealand Bloodstock Carnival Yearling Sale, he was at Te Aroha to cheer her on that day, telling the press that “it was exciting but I was really only there for the day out, I didn't expect her to win, John has done a fantastic job with her.”

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

Waikiki won another seven races including the G3 Dulcie S. and the G3 Clifford Plate whilst Juice was also a multiple stakes winner 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 grandam of the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) whilst Juice was also represented by four winners including the dam of the Listed winning Perth galloper Man Crush (Manhattan Rain).

Group 1 success

Jim also enjoyed Group 1 success as an owner, Paul Moroney proud to have selected for him as a yearling the Otaki-Maori S. winner It's My Sin (NZ) (Success Express {USA}), from whom Jim co-bred the Michael Moroney trained G2 Chairman's H. winning and twice G1 Sydney Cup runner-up Divine Rebel (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}).

Other nice horses bred or raced by Jim included the G3 Cambridge Breeders S. winner Copper Mountain (NZ) (Jetball), Juice's four times winning grandam Young Gaye (NZ) (St Hilarion {USA}), the Group 3 placed successful broodmare Bali Sugar (NZ) (Christmas Tree), the G1 placed Captain Kurt (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), the classy jumper Chief Ore (NZ) (Denagh {GB}), the Group 3 placed five times winner Kohinoor (NZ) (Bigstone {Ire}) and the G1 Brisbane Cup placegetter Bermadez (NZ) (El Khobar {NZ}).

Owning Hinuera Lodge, an agistment and training farm at Matamata (which until its sale was the base for trainers Vanessa and Wayne Hillis), Jim built that up to a successful business with Paul recalling that it “was one of the most popular farms in the district.”

Paul is one of many taking comfort in the knowledge that Jim's life was one well lead. “He touched so many lives. He had a great sense of humour and he lived life to the full. He was quick-witted and young at heart. He loved to have a good time and was often referred to as the the oldest teenager in the country!”