At the age of sixteen he was called upon to manage extensive station properties, including Edinglassie and gradually took up more and more outlying country on his own account, until he became one of the largest and most successful New South Wales squatters.

[3][4] On 9 July 1856 he married Emily Elizabeth Arndell at Merton,[5] He did a fair share of work in pioneering country on the Barwon, Hunter, and Castlereagh Rivers, and was almost uniformly successful in his enterprises.

His first notable racehorse was Chester, who was trained in conjunction with Roodee by Etienne L. de Mestre, and in 1877 won the double—Victoria Derby and Melbourne Cup.

Finding that from failing health he could not stand the excitement of a close attention to racing, Mr. White sold all his horses in training and yearlings in April 1890,[10] and they realised phenomenal prices.

Mr. White continued his breeding establishment at Kirkham, New South Wales, with a view to racing in England.

[1][12] He was a long time member of the Australian Jockey Club, joining the committee and then becoming chairman in 1880, serving until his retirement in January 1890.