Hughes was born in
Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, a younger son of Jabez Hughes
fellmonger and
tanner. In late 1849 he sailed with his parents on the
Lord Stanley for Adelaide, arriving on 11 February 1850. He attended E. W. Wickes's (died 1868) school in North Adelaide and later began working for George Aldridge's (died 1879) bakery and grocery business, then helped out at his brother William's butcher shop (Whittle & Hughes) adjacent, in
Kensington. He next "went bush", droving sheep for the Angorichina Run, then droving cattle for the
Chambers brothers at
Wirrialpa, when Tom Coffin was manager. Hughes managed John Scott's Illanawortina Run from around 1862 to the end of May 1863, and while there organised, with
J. H. Howe and Bedford Hack (died 1912), a two-day race meeting at Mudlapina, a station previously owned by
John Baker. Shortly after this meeting he left for Adelaide to join his brother in business in Adelaide. The latter's death occurring a few weeks after, he eventually carried on the business. Having developed a taste for horse racing, he was soon busy with
Gabriel Bennett,
W. H. Formby,
William Blackler, and others of the
Adelaide Racing Club, in arranging race meetings as committeeman, steward, judge, starter, clerk of scales, and handicapper. He was starter at the first races held at
Morphettville. In 1875 he took up handicapping in a voluntary capacity, and in 1877 became a paid official, and from 1892 was strictly devoted to handicapping. He was present at every
Adelaide Cup,
Goodwood Handicap, A.R.C. Birthday Cup, and City Handicap until 1917. Suffering chronic illness, he resigned his various duties as handicapper in 1913, but continued to attend race meetings as long as he was physically able. He died at his residence in
Kent Town. ==Other interests==