CHAPTER XIII 
In 1879, 196 wdns showed a falling off. One reason for this was 
the increasing weight of the Cheltenham horseman, his lowest 
scale during the season being 8 stone 7 lb., while Lord Falmouth 
was scarcely so successful as usual in the weight-for-age races. 
Archer's connection with the Russley, Bedford Lodge, and 
Stanton Stables, however, made up for this deficiency, and he 
became more popular than ever. 
In 1878 Wheel of Fortune and Peter (Sir John Astley's best 
horse, then owned by General Peel) had made their debut 
together in the Richmond Stakes, which the mare won easily. 
Archer in the same year was successful with her in the Prince 
of Wales's Stakes (Yorkshire) and the Dewhurst Plate. 
Sir George Chetwynd wrote of her performances in 1879 • 
" WTieel of Fortune in the One Thousand won easily from a bad 
lot of mares, though she would have beaten with almost equal 
ease a lot that were far above the average, for she was a great 
horse, and doubtless the best mare Lord Falmouth ever owned." 
Of the Oaks, Sir George went on to say : " Wheel of Fortune 
made hacks of her opponents in the Oaks, as she did later on 
at Ascot in the Prince of Wales's Stakes." 
The mention of Wheel of Fortune always brings up the 
eternal question of which was the best racehorse. 
In an interview published in the Illustrated Sporting and 
Dramatic News of March 22, 1884, " Rapier " and Archer, at 
the time of Lord Falmouth's sale, discuss some of his horses 
and also the wonderful St. Simon. It is interesting, though 
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