[4] Sir Harry Lewis was acquired by the American businessman Howard Kaskel and sent to Europe where he was trained by Barry Hills at Lambourn in Berkshire.
Starting the third favourite in a twelve-runner field, he took the lead approaching the final furlong before being beaten a head by the filly Good Sailing.
[5] On his debut as a three-year-old Sir Harry Lewis won a sixteen-runner maiden race over 10+1⁄2 furlongs at Haydock Park Racecourse in April.
The colt was then moved up in class for the Listed Dee Stakes over a similar distance at Chester Racecourse in May and won again, beating the odds-on favourite Shady Heights.
On 3 June Sir Harry Lewis, ridden by John Reid, started a 66/1 outsider for the 208th running of the Derby Stakes over 1+1⁄2 miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse.
Most Welcome was second choice in the betting ahead of Entitled who had finished second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and fifth in the Derby, whilst Naheez (runner up in the Prix du Jockey Club) started at 10/1.
In July he was matched against older horses for the first time and finished seventh of the nine runners behind Reference Point in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse.
[2] On his debut as a four-year-old, Sir Harry Lewis was made the 7/4 favourite for the John Porter Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on 16 April.
[8] Sir Harry Lewis was then transferred permanently to the United States where he raced in the ownership of Kaskel's Sugar Maple Stable and was trained by D. Wayne Lukas.
[9] In 1986 the independent Timeform organisation gave Sir Harry Lewis a rating of 81 p (the p indicating that he was expected to make more than normal improvement).