William Jarvis gave me the biggest b******ing of my career but I’ll miss him… and a real giant of racing says goodbye

WILLIAM JARVIS will retire at the end of the season best known as the handler of Grand Lodge and Lady Bowthorpe, who both won at Group 1 level.

Many of you will be delighted to know that William is responsible for probably the biggest b******ing – and there have been a few – in my career.

PAJarvis, right, and Shoemark had one of racing’s great days with Lady Bowthorpe in the Nassau[/caption]

The handler went absolutely bonkers one day when I was agent for Darryll Holland and we were chasing a jockeys’ championship which would eventually be won by Kieren Fallon.

I’d booked Holland for an outsider of Jarvis’s in a maiden which, to be quite honest, had very little to no chance of winning.

Some 20 minutes before declaration time the likely second favourite was without a rider and connections were keen for Holland to take the mount.

I switched ‘Dazzler’ and then all hell broke out.

Jarvis called me with a barrage of abuse which numbered every swear word known to man and woman.

I’ll never forget his passing salvo, which included: “Darryll will ride my horse and if you take him off I will put him back on. You will never work in f***ing racing again.”

As it happens the latter comment proved inaccurate, surely much to many a reader’s chagrin.

However, Jarvis did continue to click on his computer every time I tried to remove the rider to the extent that in the end the powers that be had to be brought in to tell the trainer Holland would not be on top.

As it happens, neither horse performed with much credit. It was a testing 48 hours!

In recent years William and I made up. And I loved sitting with him after Lady Bowthorpe landed the Nassau at Goodwood for Emma Banks.

“It’s really sad William is retiring he’s been amazing to me and my family,” Banks said.

“Lady Bowthorpe was our superstar and I’m so delighted William was able to have that Group 1 win.

“I will miss the whole vibe of Phantom House. It wasn’t a huge yard so I knew everyone and hopefully we will all keep in touch.”

I know that success of Lady Bowthorpe meant so much to Jarvis after some quiet years. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best for the future.

​Now, onto the jocks themselves.

You would think all was well with riders over the whip and the lack of saunas. But just because it’s all gone quiet, don’t believe the weighing room is a happy place.

The desire by the BHA to do everything by the book and not use any common sense is quite ridiculous when it comes to the whip, and that was seen clearly over a ride Richard Patrick gave to Famoso at Stratford at the end of August.

Famoso was winning for the first time on his 17th start and, to most people, was given a cracker by Patrick for trainer Matt Sheppard.

The pair got up close home despite the winning jockey losing an iron on the run-in.

However, Patrick was hit with a seven-day ban for using his whip in the wrong place. I mean he lost his iron for goodness sake.

To expect an exact science-type ride would have been insane. I’d have given Patrick a medal.

Why can’t stewards just be sensible? Only the BHA know the reason.

On the sauna front still no one at BHA has provided any help or alternative to riders. Zero.

Meanwhile, there aren’t many people who work with race horses at 6ft 6ins in the UK and there is about to be one less.

The gentle giant that is Harry Taylor has been at the Gary Moore yard since the age of 15 but after eight and a bit glorious years he’s off to Australia.

Speaking of his upheaval, he told me: “I think it’s time to see a bit of the world so I’m going to work with horses in Australia and do a bit of travelling.

“I’ve got friends and family out there so depending on how it goes will probably stay out for a year.”

Taylor has not only looked after horses but is known in the trade as one of the speedier (legally) horse box drivers!

He added: “My favourite horse was Teddy Blue who I looked after but Cheltenham will always be the best racecourse and I will always remember Editeur du Gite winning there in 2021. That was amazing.

“The lads – Gary, Josh and Jamie – are the hardest working people I have ever met.

“I remember on one occasion Gary fell off his horse and we ended up catching it at the top of the gallops. The boss was walking up the gallops looking very confused.

“I drove over in the jeep and said, ‘are you all right?’ He looked at me as if he had no idea what I was talking about and just replied, ‘I have no clue’, and we both laughed.

Good luck Harry. Will miss seeing you on track although driving to Lingfield will be a lot safer!

And finally, my eyecatcher of the weekend…

Although many believe Significantly would have been an unlucky loser of the Ayr Gold Cup if the gaps hadn’t appeared I was left feeling my weekend Nap Albasheer was the true hard luck story of the Scottish feature.

Archie Watson’s tough boy came from near last to fourth and would have been clear in a few more strides alone up the stand side. There’s a big pot in him.

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