Papworth was foaled in England in 1929. He was a black son of the Epson Derby winner Papyrus and the great filly Keysoe (by Swynford), who had won the 1919 running of the St. Leger Stakes. Papworth, who was a twin, was unraced. After being imported to Canada, he stood at Minnekhada Ranch near Port Coquitlam, the establishment of the Honourable Eric W. Hamber.

Papworth sired many excellent runners in British Columbia during the 1930s and 1940s, including Teeworth, Franworth, Sandworth, Goldstreworth, Cisalworth, Pineworth, Donnworth, Orangeworth, Saffworth, Riverworth and Nafworth. Teeworth won stakes races from British Columbia to Ontario and is still hnoured in Alberta each year with the running of the Teeworth Plate. In the year 1943, she won two stakes in Vancouver and three more in Vancouver.

In the five runnings of the Michael Wilkinson Brighouse Handicap between 1941 and 1945, four were won by offspring of Papworth: Franworth (twice), Teeworth and Goldstreworth. Saffworth, Goldstreworth and Orangeworth all set track records at Hastings Park and Saffworth set a track record at Lansdowne Park.