Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-11-19
THE MOST FAMOUS JOCKEY.

liam Archer, his father, rode and
won the Liverpool Grand National
steeplechase with Little Charley,
at I47 pounds, in 1858. BY the
time Fred was 10 years old he
showed that he was cut ont tor a
Jockey, and in due time he was ap-
pEenticed to Matthew Dawson, at
Heath house, Newmarket. On
September 20, 1870, he was first
given a mount in race which be.
gan such brilliant career; and his
first great win was with SalvanOs
for the Cesarewitch, in 1872, at II
pounds. ATcher's success has been
somewhat extraordinary, not only
in the classic events, but in all
sorts of contests, both at short and
long distances. Ofthe great three.
ycarOld races he has won the Derby
five times. 1t is impossible to give
a complete list even of the import
ant races won by the jockey. For
twelve years past be has averaged
about 600 mounts year, aud has
won in not less than 300 races,
his name standing at the head of
the list of winning jockeys every
year. AS the result of his exploits
he accumulated a fortune estimated
at $500, 600. Mr.. Pierre LOrillard
gave him $1,000 when be won the
Derby on Iroquoo. III January,
1883, Archer 1as narried to the
eldest daughter Of Mr.. John Daw-
son, the famous Newmarket trainer.
Early in November, 1884, his wife
died, after giving birth to daugh-
ter. Immediately after his bereave.
ment he came to this country on q
visit, and was received with great
distinction in sporting circles. He
was noted for his answering hon.
esty. The English newspapers all
publish articles deploring his un-
timely end.
The New York Herald says: 1t
may bo truly said thst Fred Archer
was the idol of the British public.
Every one knew that he always
did his level best to vim. lie was
invariably first aU the starting post,
and was rarely guilty of a false
start or break away. Instead of
pulling bis horse's head of he kept
it loose and as soon as the flag
dropped started his horse along
with the touch of the spur. Many
of his best races were won at the
start. lie was wonderfully quick
at seeing an opening, and very
courageous in drying his horse
right at it. 1t was because the
British public knew that he rode to
win that his mounts were often
backed with but little reference to
the horse he was riding.
Mr.. f. Gray Griswold, the mas
ter of the Rocknway hounds, an
authority upon racing matters and |
racing men, says: "Archer was a
man of remarkable size for a jockey. |
His natural weight was, | should
think, about one hundred and forty
five pounds. But he was one OF
the hardest trained men ever seen.
He rode repeatedly as low as
eight stone ten. To get himself |
down to this of course required a
great amount of wasting. When
he built his Newmarket house he
had a Turkish bath put up in it and
used it every day. lie was oflittle
build and had long muscles, upon
which he relied for his wonderful
Efforts
Being aoked what he considered
was the peculiar advantage that
Archer possessed over his competi-
tors, he replied: 81 think probably
his wonderful starting, although,
as every one knows, he was widely |
celebrated for his grand finishes
He possessed the secret of getting
off well OF the start and of keeping
a horses hind legs under him. He
was very fond of short races, say
five furlongs. In all sorts of dash
es he was far superior to any man
living. In eddition to his remark
able ability os a rider he was an
exceptionally fine judge OF a horse.
The moment he put his leg over
one he could have told you his val
ue. Archer undoubtedly made a
great deal Of money in backing his
own mounts. This man j. Ham.
mond, who has made q great sue
cess out Of horse racing and is now
the owner Of many valuable horses,
commenced as Archer's commls.
sioner. 1t would be impossible to
make any comparison between
Archer and any Of our American
Jockeys, the circumstances sur.
rounding them being so entirely
different. 1t is just possible that
on American courses Mclaughlin
might have beaten him on the
turns, as he is so familiar with
them all. | regret,' said Mr.. Girls
void, in conclusion, "that this great
rider should have met with such an
untlmely end, for he was an excep.
tional man, and he is a great loss
to the turf
An Enterprising, Reliable
House.
Mr.. B. Schmitt can always be
relied upon, not only TO carry in