The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-04
Recent Demise of the Famous Brit
ish Sportsman Brings to Mind
a Great Killing on Valour.
.GREAT JOCKEY WAS PIouED.
: Sir John Ashley Took Him OFF
Peter to "Get a Price," but the
/, Rider Got a Mount on an Out
! slider and Won the Race.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
New York. Jan. 3.-The death Of the IA
nous English turfman, Captain Machell,
brings to mind the late Fred Archer, whose
name to date carries with it the title OF
greatest Jockey of all ages.
George Fordham, Charles Wood, Tom
Chaloner, ]. Snowden. Mornington Cannon
Tom Cannon, J. Watts, the Loates brothers.
John Osborne, -Rickaby, Alsopp, Madden.
Carstable, Chifney, Robinson. F. Webb. J.
Day, Grimshaw. Goater. Custance, g. Bar
rett, Arnull, Templeman. T. French, Maid
ment and Wells were a brilliant array OF
English talent, but Archer's meteoric ca
reer. until cut short by death IN us most
tragic form. was a succession OF m
gained by the head as well as the body.
Never in ell his labors on the pigskin was
there the slightest aspersion on his char
acter. He was the Chevalier Bayard Of his
profeSsion-SanS peur ct sans reprOchet
The writer met Archer during his visit 70
America in 1886, IL memory is not just a bit
feet Of his wife's death. She was the
daughter Of the famous trainer, Mathew
Dawson.
GREAT JOCKEY WAS A TALL FELLOW.
Imagine a tall. smooth-faced young man
of quiet demeanor and thoughtful express
sion. looking like a theological student or
conventional black from the ground up
and you Gan picture to yourself Engiands
great jockey.
reach and a little, wiry figure, the great
rider much resembled in conformation
Americas greatest sprint runner, the late
l.. L. Meyers. And looking him over one
could well understand Archer's much-taiked
of knee grip on a horse. used to such adj
vantage in his races. 800
Archer would study the peculiarttes OF
disposition and temper OF his horses as q
schoolboy would his book. As a judge Of
pace Archer was an expert In long as well
as short races-something in which many
very good Jockeys are at times. wofully de-
f~icient-while in getting away from the post,
in a Jam" or ~'jostle." or in a close fit at
the finish. his superlative qualities of head.
hand. Knee and heel fairly gained him his
proud title of the worlds foremost rider.
Asked to relate what event of his riding
life gave him. most satisfaction, Archer
smiled a bit sadly and told the following
story:
SIR JOHN ASHLEY WAS AvARICIOUS.
The Manchester Cup of 1881 was yet some
!. weeks away, and speculation in London and
elsewhere was very active. Sir J. d. Asst
ley's horse. Peter, was the IA
1 vorite in the betting at O. short price, as It
: was an open secret that Sir John had en-
gagged Archer TO ride the horse. Public
dence that the stable commission hung fire,
the price not being good enough for play
or Day transactions SO far ahead.
t'One day about this time I received a
visit at Newmarket. from Sir John, and the
matter Of Peters short price for the Man
chester Cup was brought up. After some
comment. Sir John blutly proposed to stand
the mount-Fordham being mentioned-so
:. that they could get q better price about
Peter in the market.
:. s.Peter's owner offered to put me on ECO
to nothing in the stable commission. and
showed 50 much anxiety for me. to agree