314 ' KACECOUKSE AND COVEET SIDE. 



rider how to deal gently and tenderly with a 

 young horse. Shrewd common sense, moreover, 

 marks Fordham's proceedings, and out of many 

 instances the course he chose for Sir Bevys in 

 the Derby of 1879 may be mentioned. From 

 Tattenham Corner to the judge's box the track 

 slopes from the Stand side ; and knowing that 

 after all the rain that had fallen the lower side 

 of the course would be the heavier, Fordham 

 kept on the upper ground, the better going there 

 having, no doubt, much to do with the victory. 

 On the different Newmarket courses experience 

 and forethought often enable him to pull a race 

 out of the fire, and though no rider more fre- 

 quently practises the dangerous trick of winning 

 by just a short head, when, in reality, he has 

 plenty in hand, it is very rarely indeed that 

 Fordham makes a mistake. All jockeys like to 

 draw it fine, and some of the best occasionally 

 draw it too fine by just that trifling fraction 

 which makes such a vast difference when the 

 numbers are hoisted by the judge. 



But there is no getting away from the facts 

 proved by plain figures, and Archer's average of 

 wins and mounts during the last few years 

 makes it hard for his detractors to explain his 

 success. Many race-goers protest that Archer 

 wins so often because he is So often on the 



