Mr Henry Gwyn Saunders-Davies, as he was originally known, added the name of Scourfield by deed-poll as one of the conditions of a Welsh legacy and, riding under the name of Mr G S Davies, became one of the best amateur riders of all time. From a total of 1,064 races (flat and jumps), he won on 332 occasions, a startling 31%. He was also placed a further 364 times.
Born at Pentre, Wales, on February 2, 1865, he was first educated at a preparatory school at Slough before going on to Winchester, where he excelled at cricket, playing in the first eleven in 1881 and 1882. It was in that year (1882) that Gwyn Davies had his first ride in public, in the Lawrenny Hunt Cup: his first winner came the following year riding a mare called Jane Shore in a three-mile steeplechase at the Tivyside Hunt meeting. In early 1884 he took a couple of chance mounts at Tenby Steeplechases and won on them both.
In June 1885, he set sail for South America. It was a speculative expedition that did not turn out a success and, three years later – determined to devote his future to the training and riding of steeplechasers - he returned to England. One of his first early successes came with the mare Fairy Queen, on whom he won no less than forty-one races.
Mr Gwyn Davies rode in five successive Grand Nationals (1896-1900). He came fourth twice: once on Prince Albert (25/1) behind Manifesto (1897) and again in 1900 on Breemont’s Pride (20/1) behind Ambush ll. He also rode the heavily backed The Sapper (10/1) in 1899, but fell.
He gained a famous victory on 1893 Grand National winner Cloister, winning the Welsh Grand National.
He left Wales in 1896, moving first to Staffordshire before, a year later, taking up residence in Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham. After quitting the saddle in 1903, he settled down as public trainer at Myrtle Close, Worthing and scored a notable success in 1901, sending out the 66/1 outsider O’Donovan Rossa to win the Stewards’ Cup in the colours of Mr M. Singer. He also trained Rambling Katie, who won a second Manchester Cup (100/8) in 1902 when admirably ridden by young John Watts Junior (the son of the King’s jockey).
His best year came in 1909 when, after sending out William the Fourth to finish third in that year’s Derby, he trained the filly Perola to win The Oaks under Frank Wootton.
One of his principal patrons was Mr Washington Singer, who had horses in training with him for a number of years.
On Davies-Scourfield’s retirement, the stables were sub-let to horse-owner Mr F J Benson who installed Mr E. Wilson of Portslade as his private trainer.
He died at Patching, near Worthing, on December 4 1934 aged 69. He left £33,738.