Jack Jarvis
Jack Jarvis | |
---|---|
Occupation | |
Racing awards | |
British flat racing Champion Trainer (1939, 1951, 1953) | |
Significant horses | |
Blue Peter, Ocean Swell, Royal Charger, Happy Laughter, Pretendre |
Sir John Layton Jarvis (27 December 1887 – 20 June 1968) was a British trainer of racehorses. Born into a racing family, Jarvis had a brief but successful career as a jockey before taking up training. He was one of the most prominent British trainers of the mid 20th century, winning nine British Classic Races and being the British flat racing Champion Trainer on three occasions. In 1967 he became the first trainer to be knighted for services to horse racing.
Background and riding career
Jack Jarvis was born in 1887, the third son of William Arthur Jarvis, who trained racehorses at Waterwitch House at
Jack Jarvis became an apprentice jockey at his father's stable and rode his first winner in 1902 at the age fourteen. In subsequent seasons he showed considerable promise, winning the
Training career
Jarvis set himself up at Warren House stable, Newmarket as a private trainer for A. E. Barton in 1914, but after two years the yard was closed because of the
Throughout his career, Jarvis was known for the amount of hard exercise to which he subjected his horses. His methods were considered rather old-fashioned, but often gave his charges a fitness advantage in the early part of the season.[5] Another feature of his training programme was that he often sent a strong team to campaign in Scotland in autumn: he trained over 100 winners at Ayr Racecourse, including three successive Ayr Gold Cups.[1]
Jarvis' first classic success in 1923 when Elliott rode Rosebery's colt
In 1938 Jarvis trained Blue Peter for Lord Dalmeny who had succeeded his father as Earl of Rosebery in 1929. The colt was beaten in both his races as a two-year-old, but he showed his best form in 1939, winning the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.
Jarvis opened a second yard at
In 1965 Jarvis, by now 77 years old, scaled down his training commitments by giving up his Palace House stable. A year later he had two of the leading contenders for the Epsom Derby in General Gordon and Pretendre. General Gordon won the Chester Vase but was fatally injured in training shortly afterwards while Pretendre was beaten a neck by Charlottown at Epsom. Jarvis continued training until his death on 18 December 1968. At the time, Park Lodge stable housed a two-year-old filly named Sleeping Partner who went on to win the following year's Epsom Oaks, the only classic to have eluded Jarvis during his training career.[4]
Personal life and interests
Jarvis married Ethel Leader, the daughter of the trainer Thomas Leader, in 1914 and had one daughter.[3] Away from racing he had a keen interest in cricket and coursing, and won the Waterloo Cup in 1926 with his greyhound Jovial Judge.[10]
He was knighted by the Queen in the 1967 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to horse racing, making him the first trainer to be so honoured.[11][12] Jarvis wrote an autobiography entitled They're Off, which was published in 1969.[13]
References
- ^ a b c "Sir Jack Jarvis dies at Newmarket". Glasgow Herald. 20 December 1968. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
- ^ ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- ^ a b "History of Park Lodge". Jameseustace.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ "Double for Jack Jarvis?". Glasgow Herald. 19 March 1934. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ "Reducing penalties". Glasgow Herald. 13 July 1931. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ "Blue Peter's worth to owner and trainer". Glasgow Herald. 31 July 1939. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ "Happy Laughter wins 1000 Guineas easily". Indian Express. 2 May 1953. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ "Jack Jarvis may retire". The Bulletin. 13 July 1955. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ "Coursing". Glasgow Herald. 20 February 1926. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ "Monarch's racing links reflected in honours list". Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder Magazine. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ "The London Gazette 2 June 1967". The London Gazette. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- OCLC 61260.