84 The Life of Fred Archer 
Prince Batthyany and the Earls of Rosebery and Bradford. 
The last mentioned wrote to Archer on the occasion of his 
wedding : 
" Weston Park, Shifnal. 
" February 25, 1883. 
" Archer, 
" As one of your earliest employers, after your own 
stable — indeed, I believe the first, except Prince Batthyany — I 
must write to send you my congratulations and many good 
wishes for your happiness as a married man ; and I send you a 
little present for your breakfast table, which I hope may be 
useful. I hope T shall have a horse or two for you to ride in 
the course of the season. 
" I remain, 
" Faithfully yours, 
" Bradford." 
In 1873, though he did not win any of the classic races, he 
advanced rapidly to the front. He had no less than 419 
mounts, winning on 107, Constable defeating him for first place 
by three, having a record of no wins out of 397 mounts. 
There was a severe contest between them as to who would 
be at the top of the list, but Constable had a bit the best of it 
at Warwick. 
It was in this year that Tom French died, and a few years 
later Archer lost Constable as a friend and companion. 
sporting Times says Archer was apprenticed to Mr. Dawson 
at a very fortunate time. Webb, who had been riding light- 
weights for the stable, and had won the Cesarewitch on Cherie, 
accumulated flesh very rapidly, and Archer was just in time 
to take his place. A year or two later the death of poor Tom 
French caused a still greater vacancy. It was hardly antici- 
pated that a lightweight would be made first jockey to the 
most powerful stable in England, but such proved to be the 
case. 
