214 The Life of Fred Archer 
would have forgotten all about it when the finish came. If 
you want to solve a real mystery about him, try and discover 
why he was always called ' The Tinman,' even in the sporting 
papers. Personally, I have not the faintest idea. 
' ' Concerning Fred Jacobs, he may have known your Aus- 
tralian Mutton Laureate, but I should think he came along a 
little later (Jacobs, I mean), when the Homer of the Mumim- 
bidgee had already left the Cotswolds for the classic country 
of Convicts and Kangaroos. ..." 
He wrote some lines himself, which he said reminded him 
of Gordon's verses. They ran something like this : 
" The mare swept on to the finish. 
But the girl's eyes throbbed with tears. 
Another length meant victory, 
But the girl's heart burst with fears." 
Prior to the opening of the season in 1884 there was an 
interesting interview with Fred Archer in the Illustrated Sport- 
ing and Dramatic News, and as it explains some of his methods 
of riding and views on starting, portions of it are quoted. 
Archer in a way prided himself upon his weight, and the 
first thing he said was, " I could ride 8 stone lolb. to-morrow, 
and get a few more pounds off without very much trouble. 
I shall ride 8 stone 51b. in the course of the year, I have no 
doubt." 
Discussing an unexpected win the previous year on La 
Trappe in the Molecomb Stakes, Archer said : " It was strange, 
I can't make out how I came to win now. I certainly did not 
think I had a chance. You may depend upon it that it was 
a false run race. We went no pace at first, and then the mare 
had just speed enough to get home with one run. It happens 
that way sometimes, you pull off when you haven't an outside 
chance." 
When asked the secret of success Archer replied with a 
smile : " Well, I really don't quite know. I never throw away 
a chance in a race if I can help it, and am always looking out 
