CHAPTER XII 
Fred Archer had a great year, for he rode 229 winners, 
and he won his second St, Leger in succession on Jannette, who 
also carried off the Oaks. He won the Jockey Club Cup on 
Silvio, and several of the big two-year-old races on Wheel of 
Fortune. 
It was this year that George Fordham returned to the 
racecourse after over two years' absence. Tom Jennings 
gave him his first mount in the Bushes Handicap on a horse 
called Pardon, belonging to Count Lagrange, at the Newmarket 
Craven Meeting of 1878. Fordham would not mount in the 
Birdcage, as no one hated flattery more than he did. He went 
down the course with Harry Custance to the Ditch Mile start- 
ing-post, and he got into the saddle about half-way down. 
He seemed all right at first, but just before he got to the 
starting-post his spirits failed him, and he said : " Cus, I wish 
I hadn't got up. Look at those kids ; I don't know one of 
'em." There were several smaller boys, and only Archer of 
the older ones riding. 
Custance replied : " My dear George, don't you trouble 
about that. They will soon know you when you get alongside 
of them, especially at the finish." 
In the end Archer won on Advance, and Fordham was 
second, beaten three lengths, so the judge said. It struck 
Custance that Fordham did not exert himself much in this 
race, which he attributed to his being rather weak and out of 
condition. Afterwards he went to him and said : " Why, 
you didn't have half a go ! " 
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