The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-29
Romance of the Track WOveI
in Little Jockeys Life.
Now He's Chosen to Ride
FavOrite i'm EPSON Stakes.
TRIED FOR IT ALL HIS LIFE
George Archibald Chosen to
Ride Famous "St. LOuis.'
All the Ups and Downs of the
Track Visited American.

New York, May 29.-The ambition
of every jockey to ride the favorite in
the famous English derby will fall TO
the lot of an American this season. On
the historic Epson downs course.
"Wednesday. George Archibald, an
American racing pilot. will have tho
mount on Lord Queensborough's St
Louis. quoted as favorite for the classic
of the English turf
st. Louis. a three-year-oid son of
Louvois out of Princess Sterling. sem
sational winner of the two thousands
guineas stoke at New Market, April
&c, is estimated to have an excellent
chance of winning with Archibald in
the saddle if the book makers odds
can be taken as a criterion.
Many American jockeys have risen
to prominence in Europe including
Danny Maher, Tod Sloan Sheets Mar
tin. Fred Taral. and Frank O'Neil.
Archibald is 81 years old, and a native
of California. Long before he was
IA, he had peeped thru the knotholes
of the fence that surrounded the old
Oakland. Calf. race course and
cheered for horses as they flew by in
races.
His Story Begins.
Later he was bold enough to ven
ture inside the track and hang around
the stables in the early mornings when
the horses were being worked out.
One day Daggie Smith. who owns
two racers asked him if he would not
like TO learn to ride and go to work
exercising horses. He was given
mount and so adept was he that in
less than a month he was a full
Pledged exercise boy. Then came the
peak of his ambition. mount in a
real race. He did not win it but gave
every evidence of becoming a race
rider.
He Was Determined
For two or three years little George
Archibald saw the ups and downs of
spirit and went from one track TO an
other after Daggie Smith had given
UP racing
One day at Los Angeles, he was rec
commended to an owner as a rider
who has not been given a fair chance.
The judges had thought proper to
mak@a change of riders on some horse
and Archibald was the boy selected.
The horse won and the riding of
Archibald created such an impression
that his mounts became freuent. His
stock went up.
Then he decided to try the New
York field. Opportunities were scarce
and soon he discovered New York was
no place for him.
Me for the big ship and Europe"
he told his friends. II know I can
outride some of the Americans who
are making a hit over there"
He's Ridden for Them All
Germany was his selected location.
This was about eleven years ago. In
less than a month. his skill was rec
Ognizcd, and was so pronounced that
he headed the list of jockeys for two
or three years. Then came the war
and Archibald sought fresh fields in
SPAIN There he rode for the most
fashionable stables Including that of
the king of Spain, coca SionaIly skip
ping over to Austria to fill engage
ments. Owners in India. too. sought
his services where he rode many
winners
Upon his return to Europe after the
war he chose Austria for some OF his
activities. Between Spain, Austria
and France he has divided his atten-