User:Peaky76/Arthur Pavis

Arthur Pavis was a British Classic winning jockey. He won the 1832 2,000 Guineas on Archibald

He was brother-in-law to fellow jockey Patrick Conolly.

Racing style and character
He is said to have been the most handsome of jockeys and one of the most conceited.

Early life
Arthur Pavis was born to John and Eleanor Pavis at Hounslow Heath on 17 January 1806. He was baptized a few weeks later, on 9 Feb 1806, at St Dunstan with St Catherine, Feltham, Middlesex.

He became apprentice jockey to Captain Farmer aged 12, and spent fifteen months with him. Farmer soon saw Pavis's potential and suggested to his friend Lord Rossmore that he take Pavis as a retained jockey. Rossmore agreed, and took Arthur to his stables in Ireland only to unexpectedly give up racing.

In disappointment, Pavis returned to England, taking a retainer with Mr Dilly. Dilly, however, did not give him a ride for nearly a year and Pavis belatedly made his debut on Nightshade in a handicap at Racecourse in 1821, weighing just three stone eleven pounds. His regular riding weight was seven stone without wasting, and he was in great demand in lightweight handicaps. Pavis would stay with Dilly for six years.

On 9 August 1827, he rode the five-year-old mare Conquest to victory in five successive heats, over a combined total of nine miles, at Salisbury.

By 1829 he had become royal jockey to George IV. When the King died, he rode for Colonel Peel, Lord Suffield and Lord Uxbridge among others. He would ride for Peel until his death.

He finished second in two Derbies, one Oaks and one St Leger, but was successful in one Classic - the 1832 2,000 Guineas on Archibald.

Personal life and death
He married Eliza, daughter of James Edwards, trainer to the Earl of Jersey, in Newmarket on 28 Nov 1833. They had three sons – Arthur, Albert and Alfred.

Besides racing, Pavis was also a skilled boxer, as well as enjoying hare coursing, cock-fighting and foxhunting.

In April 1834, a newspaper wrote of him 'Arthur Pavis has the call for the lightweights at Newmarket, worth £100 per annum to him at least. He is in very high practice in public and in private, and never being called on to waste, is in great request and perhaps rides more races in the year than any other jockey in England. As practice makes perfect, Pavis is approaching perfection and will no doubt, arrive at it in time. He has a very elegant seat, being cast in the mould for a jockey, and is very full of power for his size.'

In October 1839, ten days after Newmarket's Houghton meeting, Pavis had a fit. He died of what was described as 'brain fever' on 15 October, aged 33.

Major wins
 Great Britain
 * 2,000 Guineas Stakes -  Archibald (1832)