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David Davis, Entrepreneur & Race Horse Owner

Image: Certificate of registration of racehorse - Phar Lap, 03 December 1928

Source: Museum Victoria

The American born businessman David J. Davis had made his money in Sydney through photography and importing domestic items such as dinnerware. Horse racing was a hobby. In the late 1920s he developed an association with the trainer Harry Telford, putting several of his horses under his care. Although they initially had limited success, he was impressed with Telford's intimate knowledge of pedigrees and took an interest when Telford enthusiastically spoke about the prospects of a colt with promising breeding listed in the Catalogue of the Annual New Zealand Thoroughbred Yearling Sales at Trentham for January 1928.

In truth, Davis scarcely knew one end of a horse from the other, but he knew a lot about money. The arithmetic on Phar Lap was simple. When he first laid eyes on the horse that he had been talked into purchasing sight unseen, he was distinctly unimpressed. He had already 'blown' 160 guineas (£168) on the sale and the last thing he wanted to do was spend more on training and upkeep for the horse. He and Telford agreed on a leasing deal to last three years, under which Telford would manage the horse and cover all costs. Davis would receive a third of all winnings - if there were any.

It took 18 months before Phar Lap won his first race, but by the time the lease expired in February 1931, Davis's share of the winnings totalled £15,615 from 36 starts - almost a hundred fold return on his initial outlay. Given this, it was surprising that Davis subsequently agreed to sell a half share in the horse to Telford for £4,000, but as it was later to revealed, Davis was by then pessimistic about the horse's future. As a gelding he had no stud potential and was showing distinct signs of being lame with a heavily swollen leg, leading Davis to conclude that his best racing days were behind him. In truth Davis's hands were somewhat tied, Telford had proved that he had the winning way with Phar Lap through his hard training regime and the horse had become dependant on Telford's young strapper, Tommy Woodcock, to the extent that he would begin to fret almost the minute Woodcock was out of his sight. By the time of Phar Lap's death just over a year later, Davis rated the horse's worth at £100,000.

Whereas the Australian public ran 'hot and cold' with their feelings for Telford, their regard for Davis edged closer to plain dislike. The fact that it was he, rather than Telford, who was determined to take the champion to the United States earned him no friends among the public. However, it should be remembered that it was Davis, on site in the USA, who arranged for Phar Lap to be taxidermied and returned to Australia. It is primarily Davis to whom generations of Australians owe a debt of gratitude for the privilege of seeing Phar Lap again.

Davis remained involved in the Australian and American racing scene for several decades. He spent a fortune investing in thoroughbred breeding horses and had some success - although none came close to equalling Phar Lap. Amongst his more notable winners was Russia, who won the 1946 Melbourne Cup and was subsequently taken to America to race like Phar Lap.

References:
Reason, Michael, 2005, Phar Lap: A True Legend, Museum Victoria, Melbourne (revised edition 2009).
The Argus (Melbourne), 8 Apr 1932, p.7, 'Phar Lap's Death' http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4445607
The Mercury (Hobart), 12 Oct 1949, p.26, 'Russia Hailed As Stud Bargain By New Owner' http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26659145

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Photograph - Tommy Woodcock & James Ferguson Smith, Agua Caliente, Mexico, 20 Mar 1932

Photograph, taken in Mexico in March 1932, depicts Phar Lap's trainer Tommy Woodcock and his farrier James Smith. Woodcock is holding a horse shoe, which was removed from Phar Lap after ...

From: San Francisco, United States Images: 1
Photograph - Tommy Woodcock, Phar Lap, Agua Caliente, Mar 1932

Photograph, taken in Mexico in March 1932, depicts the race horse Phar Lap and his trainer Tommy Woodcock. This copy, printed in San Francisco, was the property of James Smith, Phar La ...

From: San Francisco, United States Images: 2
Photograph - W. Elliot, Dr. Nielsen, A.J. Martin, 1932

This photograph, depicting Phar Lap's jockey, vet and track jockey, was one of three with accompanied a letter sent by Phar Lap's strapper Tommy Woodcock to the donor's aunt on 18th Mar ...

Images: 3
Photograph - W. Fullmer Photography, Agua Caliente Handicap, Mounted, 20 Mar 1932

Mounted photograph depicting the running and the finishing of the Agua Caliente Handicap horse race, run in Mexico on March 20th, 1932. It is signed and dedicated to Phar Lap's trainer ...

From: San Diego, United States Images: 3
Presentation Sash - AJC Derby, Phar Lap, Grey, 1929

Alternative Name(s): Ribbon Sash presented to champion race horse Phar Lap after winning the AJC Derby at Randwick Race Course in Sydney on the 5th October, 1929. It was retained by fa ...

From: Randwick, Australia Images: 7
Presentation Sash - VRC Derby, Phar Lap, White, 1929

Alternative Name(s): Ribbon Sash presented to champion race horse Phar Lap after winning the VRC Derby at Flemington Race Course in Melbourne on the 2nd November, 1929. It was retained ...

From: Flemington, Australia Images: 7
Presentation Sash - VRC St. Leger, Phar Lap, Burgundy, 1930

Alternative Name(s): Ribbon Sash presented to champion race horse Phar Lap after winning the VRC St. Leger Stakes at Flemington Race Course in Melbourne on the 1st March, 1930. It was ...

From: Flemington, Australia Images: 7
Printers Proof - Sporting Globe, Phar Lap, 1930s

Printers proof consisting of a photograph of Phar Lap with strapper Tommy Woodcock, glued onto a sheet of thick cardboard, with text handwritten in pencil. It is believed that this is ...

From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 2
Racing Programme - Agua Caliente Jockey Club, Winter Race Meeting, 20 Mar 1932

Programme issued by the Agua Caliente Jockey Club for the Handicap Day race meeting, held at Agua Caliente race track on Sunday, March 20th, 1932. This race was significant as the first ...

From: Agua Caliente, Mexico Images: 2
Rubber Soles - Horse, Phar Lap, 1928-1932

Pair of black rubber soles that were part of a collection of Phar Lap's equipment which had been keep in a suitcase by his strapper Tommy Woodcock as a memorial to his beloved friend. ...

From: Mordialloc, Australia Images: 2