274 The Life of Fred Archer 
would not be considered anything to a man who walked with 
sweaters to get his weight off, but quite a different thing to 
a man who wasted on Turkish baths and physic. 
" When Archer came to the post on Cambusmore — this 
was the first race he rode in Ireland — he thought he would like 
to win for the Lord Lieutenant, and, on mounting, he received 
such an ovation as is seldom heard on a racecourse. It 
wanted five minutes to starting time, so we had a chat. I 
said, ' Well, Fred, I don't know if it is the excitement from the 
ovation they gave you, but I never saw you looking half so 
bad as you do now.' 
" He turned round laughing, and said, ' Well, if I look 
bad now, what shall I look next Wednesday, when I ride St. 
Mirin in the Cambridgeshire ? ' 
" Nothing more was said, as the time was up. I started 
them, and he won. Archer was also successful in the next 
race, riding 8 stone I2lb., but was beaten into third place on 
Black Rose in the last race, the Welter Handicap, by Tom 
Beasley, on Spahi, and Mr. Cullen on Lord Chatham. I need 
hardly tell you Mr. Beasley had a most jovial reception on his 
return to the weighing-room. 
" On board the mail steamer, on our way back, I said to 
Archer, ' You don't mean to say you are going to ride 8 stone 
7lb. next week ? 
" He answered me : ' Cus, I am sure to ride St. Mirin, 8 
stone 61b. or at most 8 stone 71b. I shall win the Cam- 
bridgeshire and then be able to come down into your country 
and enjoy myself this winter.' " 
The two of them discussed plans for the winter, and Cus- 
tance warned him he had seen many jockeys who wasted on 
physic, and especially at the back end of a season, go out like 
the snuff of a candle. Archer replied : 
" Never mind if I go out or not. I shall do it." 
It may be added to Custance's story that the horse which 
Archer rode at 8 stone I2lb. was Mr. C. J. Blake's Isidore, 
