TOM CANNON 75 



under the impact of too powerful engines, driven 

 along at the highest pressure. And granted these 

 comparisons are correct, we may surmise that 

 Cannon's more sympathetic style injured fewer 

 horses than his formidable rival, who was cruel 

 to two-year-olds in the early part of his racing 

 career ; but he was more considerate to them 

 towards the close of his life. 



Regarded dispassionately, it seemed almost a 

 pity that the riding of Cannon and Archer so 

 clashed, for instead of each jockey assisting the 

 public to form a notion of an ideal horseman from 

 their respective achievements, they represented 

 separate schools ; firstly, the energetically harsh, 

 and secondly, the quietly coaxing. In consequence, 

 only admirers of both can form some faint con- 

 ception of how a perfect jockey should ride ; 

 and they must also pay regard to Tod Sloan's 

 feats. 



The only Derby which Tom Cannon won was 

 on the Duke of Westminster's Shotover. Never- 

 theless, this much coveted race must not definitely 

 determine the merits of our representative jockeys, 

 for Archer won the blue ribbon five times for his 

 patrons ; yet his ride on Ormonde was a small 

 feat by comparison with the work he put in when 

 Lord Hastings' Melton passed the winning-post, 

 not prompted by his own inclinations so much as 

 through the grim determination of his dashing 

 rider. Unquestionably "The Tinman," as Fred 

 Archer was called, was idolised by the populace, 

 who adore brilliancy and whip flourishing. Yet it 

 is doubtful if Tom Cannon did not benefit the 



