10 Preface 
Not until 1885 did Archer again ride a Derby winner, and 
he then, on Melton, rode what was probably the greatest 
race of his life. Paradox having got Royal Hampton and 
Xaintrailles dead-settled at the Bell, and being then well 
clear of Melton, seemed to have the verdict safe, but, besides 
showing greenness, being left alone, he commenced to slow 
down, as lazy horses such as he was are apt to, and Archer, 
riding Melton for all he was worth, brought him up like a 
flash of lightning, so that, although Paradox responded most 
gallantly when challenged, the other had just got the first 
run, and won one of the greatest races I have ever seen by a 
head. 
Archer's other Derby winner, the mighty Ormonde, in 
1886, did not give him much trouble to score on, as although 
The Bard made a gallant effort the big horse outstrode the 
little one from the distance, and his length and a half victory 
was easily gained. 
My father thought Archer the greatest jockey he ever saw, 
from 1850 up to the time of his death, in 1890, and I believe 
personally that he would have more than held his own against 
such acknowledged great exponents of the art of riding in 
this century as Maher, O'Neill, Sloan, Carslake, Donoghue, 
Frank Wootton, Joe Childs, Stern, and Frank Bullock. 
Although their style is different, they would have found poor 
Fred hard indeed to defeat, and he was marvellously quick 
at grasping the best way possible to win a race, and seldom if 
ever lost what he should have won. 
Probably the worst-judged race Archer ever rode was 
when he was beaten for the Cambridgeshire of 1886 on St. 
Mirin, as he nearly " starved himself silly " to get down to 
8 stone 7 lb., this being one pound more than " Mr. Manton's " 
colt was weighted at. Archer had never succeeded in winning 
this event and was rather nervous and, after having apparently 
got the best of the struggle, St. Mirin was caught again in the 
last ten strides by The Sailor Prince and beaten a head. 
