He was born in Ashburton, South Canterbury, New Zealand on 6 June 1871.
He won a unique double of the New Zealand Cup in 1888 for thoroughbreds, at Riccarton, riding Manton, and in 1919 driving Trix Pointer to win the NZ Trotting Cup at the Addington Raceway.
[2] As a jockey, he also won the 1894 Grand National Hurdles and 1895 Great Northern Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase with Liberator.
"Old Free" as he was reverently known in the trotting fraternity was also an expert in the management of thoroughbred horses.
He successful raced, trained and owned horses both over the fences and on the flat.