'Of a truth he was the greatest authority on racing matters in Jamaica.'
J T 'Mass Jack' Palache
c1846-1923
'scholar, advocate, politician, agriculturist, and turfite'
Jack Palache wrote on racing in Jamaica, in the Gleaner, under the pen name 'Old Turfite'.
Daily Gleaner, February 5, 1924
- a sad advertisement, illustrating another of Jack Palache's great interests.
Daily Gleaner, May 10, 1924
When the 'Old Turfite' died fellow turfites paid their tributes, though, strangely, there was no editorial comment on the death of a man who had fulfilled so many significant roles in the island. In his later years Palache was the leading voice in the Jamaica League, and there were hints that the arguments between him, in that role, and H G deLisser, the editor of the Gleaner, were the reason for the absence of such an editorial.
Daily Gleaner, December 22, 1923
One Who Played Prominent Part in Politics and turf History of Island.
AUTHORITY ON HORSE
Had Thorough Knowledge Of Agriculture and did great Work In Its Cause.
It is with a feeling of profound regret that we chronicle this morning the death of Mr. John Thomson Palache. The sad event took place at Clover, Mandeville, yesterday afternoon. During the past couple of years Mr. Palache had not been in the very best of health. On and off he was ill, but he possessed a remarkable vitality, and so it came as somewhat of a surprise to those who learnt of his death yesterday. There had been no previous announcement of a relapse, and apparently the end came quite suddenly.
Mr. Palache was for many years one of the leading citizens of Mandeville. Born 77 years ago, he was connected with a family that is well and favourably known in Manchester. After leaving school he decided to practise law and for many years he was one of the leading solicitors of the island. He was made an advocate by the Government and thus practised in the Supreme Court. In later years Mr. Palache turned his attention to agriculture and was appointed one of the Instructors under the Jamaica Agricultural Society - a post which he held for several years. He did useful work as a "missionary" of the Agricultural Society in various parts of the colony, but he had to relinquish the position on account of failing health. Not only was he an able lawyer, but he was a foremost politician in his early days; and for a number of years he represented Manchester In the Legislative Council. But it was as a distinguished turfite that Mr. Palache was best known. Of a truth he was the greatest authority on racing matters in Jamaica. As a young man he had been associated with the giants of the turf - Morgan, Roper, Swaby and others: and as years went on he developed such a keen love for the sport that he bred and raced many thoroughbreds himself. Not only were his candidates successful but their progenies have helped to make turf history. One has only to turn back one's mind to some 30 years ago and to recall the achievements of the great Summer Morn, Mclan and Annie Douglas. Mr. Palache in his day carried off many coups on the turf and he was especially successful with two year olds. And as time went on he became a recognised authority on racing matters - training and otherwise. For a time he retired from active participation on the turf, but when he re-appeared it was to form what is to-day the controlling body of racing. He conceived the idea that if racing was to succeed in Jamaica there should be a controlling body run on up-to-date lines, and thus he went about the country preaching the gospel of the return to the traditions of the good old days of racing and the revival of the horse breeding industry of the colony. His propaganda met with eminent success. He formed the Jamaica Jockey Club, Ltd., acquired Knutsford Park from the Allwood family, and by arrangement acquired the interests of the Kingston Race Stand Company, whereby the iron stand was removed from the Kingston Course to Knutsford Park. He rallied around him not only the breeders but the racing men as a whole; but Mr. Palache dreamt of great things and like most pioneers, he left the work which he commenced for others to carry on. It is unnecessary to here go into details about the ramifications of the Jockey Club, but it must be admitted that whilst under present management the concern has flourished greatly, it was the "grand old man" of the turf who conceived the idea of, and brought into being a Jamaica Jockey Club.
With advancing years he was unable to take an active part in racing, and so he was not seen on the race track amongst the younger turfites. But it was a pleasure to read his contributions to the press An educated gentleman, he wielded a facile pen, and his knowledge on most matters, especially racing, was most profound. Throughout the colony the death of "Mass Jack," for that was how he was familiarly known on the turf, will be received with widespread regret: and although he has passed away his name will ever be remembered in the turf history of this colony.
The remains of the deceased will be laid to rest in the Mandeville Parish Church at 8.30 o'clock this morning.
To the sorrowing relatives the Gleaner tenders its heartfelt sympathy.
Daily Gleaner, January 25, 1924
Recollections Of An Able Jamaican, By One Who Knew him Intimately.
LOVE FOR CHILDREN.
His Tribute to Late T. L. Harvey, & Enthusiasm Over Famous Race Horses.
In the little country town of Mandeville, where the days and nights are hushed with a strange silence, and the birds carol and play in the springtime: where the flowers bloom and fill the air with fragrance, is to be seen a grave, beneath which lies the remains of a man whose pleasures and sorrows in life are passed, and where the dark cloud of sin and pain and suffering can no more oppress him, where he is quietly and calmly awaiting the day when that Great Sower shall separate the wheat from the tares.
It is the last remains of Jack Thomson Palache, scholar, advocate, politician, agriculturist, and turfite. There is no disputing the fact that there has recently passed away from our midst one of the most able men that our country has given birth to within the last century. And it is so sad, to think that owing to blindness, he was compelled to live his last few years in complete retirement. All his extraordinary abilities together with his vast knowledge of our country and the conditions that exist, and his years of experience were practically wasted, the moment he was unable to move about and help and advise those who appreciated his greatness.
There are many to-day who can tell of the phenomenal scholastic attainments he possessed, of the enviable position he held as a lawyer, of the brilliancy he displayed as an advocate, of the great acquisition he was to the Legislative Council, of the valuable assistance he offered to the Agricultural Society, of the prominent part he played in breeding blood stock, and last but not least, in the establishing of a Jockey Club in Jamaica.
He spent the greater part of his life in Mandeville, and I can well remember how he used to pay periodical visits to our schools, and always embraced the opportunity to encourage us to be attentive to our lessons and obedient to our teachers, and not to forget to come to Clover on Friday, and he presented with a sugar pine. He. was an interesting entertainer. At his home he would tell us of his school days, then of his success as a lawyer, and also the pleasant recollections he cherished of the day when he stood side by side with Mr. Thomas Lloyd Harvey and a few others of the leading lights of the Jamaica Bar, to be appointed as advocates.
It was pleasing to hear him speak of Mr. Harvey. He thought him the great man of his time, and strange, Mr. Harvey always referred to him as a great man, and to the general public the question always to be decided was which was the greater man. Then before we left Clover he would be sure to have something to say about the great horses of his time, Annie Douglas , Summer-morn, Sweet Cecily, were horses whose names and performances were always fresh in his memory and that wonderful mare Zillah was one he had great respect for. He would get so enthusiastic over these horses that he seemed to have forgotten entirely that we were mere school children and were more anxious to eat the pines than to receive a lecture on horse racing.
The end came about two weeks ago at his home in Mandeville, where he was confined for many years. There he passed away in his 77th year. For years his name was a household word over the length and breadth of Jamaica, and one wonders if at any time in the history of our country there ever lived a man who had gained so much popularity among his countrymen, and so sad it is to think that in his last days utter blindness compelled him to live in retirement and actual seclusion when he should have been enjoying himself to his fullest latitude.
It is pleasing to note that he accepted his illness cheerfully and with Christian-like fortitude, and his last days were spent solemnly and sincerely communing with his Creator. It may be quite a long time before our country produces such another able and brilliant son, and we regret that his life of usefulness is now ended. We shall miss him greatly now that he has shuffled off this mortal coil, and has been gathered unto his fathers, and our only hope is that when that great day comes, when soul and body will be reunited, he may be amongst those, to whom it is said, by God, "Come, partake of the glory and honour I have provided for you from the beginning of the world."
E. E. DARBY.
