BRILLIANT HORSEMEN 71 



many a jockey, who rides a desperate finish on 

 race-courses little known to the averag-e student 

 of form, at a glance. But this should not make 

 us depreciate the heroes. 



In Art, certain masters are well defined land- 

 marks ; their work excites our envy and our 

 adoration. Dull mediocrity feebly strives to imi- 

 tate them, when they have founded schools of 

 their own. Surely, if this is true in Art, the same 

 may be applied to racing ; therefore, let us men- 

 tion those representative horsemen who have 

 left their mark upon the English Turf. 



Frederick Archer 



Several years have elapsed since this wonderful 

 jockey, in shattered health, groped for a revolver 

 within his reach, and, pulling the trigger, termi- 

 nated one of the most extraordinary careers that 

 has ever been connected with Turf history. 



Fred Archer was the chief exponent of nigger- 

 driving jockeyship. When racing he gave the 

 impression of being chronically on the alert, whilst 

 he communicated his own lightning quickness to 

 whatsoever horse he rode. He may be said to 

 have forced the very maximum exertion out of 

 every mount. For the moment he seemed to 

 inspire his horse with his own determination, 

 riding energetically every yard of the way, and 

 finishing in a marvellous style with the most 

 brilliant dash. Directly the flag fell he always 

 gained something, an advantage he often main- 

 tained to the end when the distance was five 



