Michael Jarvis (14 August 1938 – 20 September 2011) was a
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
horse trainer
A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some of the responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them submissive behaviors and/or coaching them for e ...
in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
. Based in
Newmarket, Jarvis trained numerous
Group One
Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern race system introduce ...
winners including three winners of the British Haydock Sprint Cup. Jarvis's horses also won important races in
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
,
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...
and
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
. He kept approximately 80 horses in training, and his main jockey was
Philip Robinson. Jarvis's career spanned almost 40 years from his first win at the top-rated
Haydock Sprint Cup
The Sprint Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), a ...
in 1969 to his 2007 win of the Italian
Premio Roma.
He announced his decision to retire on 22 February 2011 with almost immediate effect, handing over the yard to his long-time assistant
Roger Varian. This was due to ill health – Jarvis had undergone surgery for a heart condition and was also suffering from prostate cancer, and said in the months running up to his retirement that his health had deteriorated. He died on 20 September 2011 at the age of 73.
Major wins
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
*
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racec ...
– (1) – ''
Carroll House (1989)''
*
Prix du Jockey Club – (1) – ''
Holding Court (2000)''
----
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...
*
Haydock Sprint Cup
The Sprint Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), a ...
– (3) – ''Tudor Music (1969), Green God (1971), Petong (1984)''
*
International Stakes – (1) – ''
Beldale Flutter (1981)''
*
Coronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards ...
– (1) – ''
Easter Sun (1982)''
*
Lancashire Oaks – (2) – ''Noushkey (1999), Ela Athena (2000)''
*
1,000 Guineas
The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,6 ...
– (1) – ''
Ameerat
Ameerat (foaled 4 April 1998) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from August 2000 to October 2001 she ran seven times and won two races. After winning once from three starts as a two-year-old, she ...
(2001)''
*
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlon ...
– (1) – ''
Rakti (2003)''
*
Prince of Wales's Stakes – (1) – ''Rakti (2004)''
*
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – (1) ''Rakti (2004)''
*
Chester Cup
The Chester Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 147 yards () at Chester i ...
– (2) – ''Anak Pekan (2004 & 2005)''
*
Lockinge Stakes – (1) – ''Rakti (2005)''
*
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards ...
– (1) – ''
Eswarah
Eswarah (foaled 21 April 2002) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the 2005 Epsom Oaks. In a racing career which lasted from April to August 2005 the filly ran five times and won three races. Unraced as a two ...
(2005)''
----
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
*
Irish Champion Stakes – (1) – ''Carroll House (1989)''
*
Pretty Polly Stakes – ''Tarfshi (2002)''
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Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...
*
Bayerisches Zuchtrennen
The Bayerisches Zuchtrennen is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Munich over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year on the last Sun ...
– (1) – ''Pressing (2009)''
*
Grosser Preis von Baden
The Grosser Preis von Baden is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Baden-Baden over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is sched ...
– (2) – ''Carroll House (1988), Morshdi (2001)''
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Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
*
Gran Premio d'Italia – (1) – ''Welsh Guide (1988)''
*
Premio Roma – (2) – ''Welsh Guide (1988), Pressing (2007)''
*
Derby Italiano
The Derby Italiano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Capannelle over a distance of 2,200 metres (about 1 mile and 3 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in ...
– (2) – ''Prorutori (1989), Morshdi (2001)''
*
Premio Presidente della Repubblica – (3) – ''Bob Back (1985), Polar Prince (1998), Rakti (2003)''
References
1938 births
2011 deaths
British racehorse trainers
People from Newmarket, Suffolk
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