THE GREAT ENGLISH JOCKEY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2415, 31 December 1881, Page 3

THE GREAT ENGLISH JOCKEY.

Aroher'e average of wins and mounts during the last few years makes it hard for his detractors to explain his success. Many raoe-goers protest that Aroher wins so often because he is so often on the favorite, but frequently the favorite holds the position simply because Aroher rides. The figures remain. In 1875 Archer won 172 races ; in 1876 he won 207; next year he won 218; the next 229; in 1879 he was credited with 197; and in 1880 he won 120. This year, up to 16th September, out of 372 mounts he has won 149 races, an average surely altogether unexceptional. His successes this year are the more _ surprising, because he is debarred from riding in many races owing to the faot that he canno*; go to the soale under Bst 61b or 71b, a weight whioh he often has much difficulty in reaching. Archer's length of leg is a great assistance to him, and gives him remarkable power in the saddle. He seems sometimes, us it were, to sit baok and drive his horse before him. It is a curious, and under certain conditions an extremely agreeable sight to watch the popular jockey oonrng up towards the judge's box, level, perhaps, with the leading horses, or it may be a little behind them. At that preoiao moment when the effort should be made Archer's mount seems gradually to forge ahead and steal to the front; a glance over his shoulder, whioh he can give without disturbing his seat in the saddle as shorter riders appear to do, shows him the state of the case as regards the other horses, and he either rides his animal with vigorous severity, or, if _ this bo not necessary, maintains —if possible a sufficient advantage to the end. Another requisite of jockoyship is courage, and this Aroher possesses in abundance, as his dashes on the rails round Tattenham Corner and such like dangerous places amply demonstrate, la Bend Or'B Darby, for example, it is said that his left foot actually shaved a post, and when one thinks of the horrible effeot of smashing a leg against a massive piece of wood when racing at this terrifio pace, the daring which runs the risk so fine becomes epparent. "Getting the rails" is usually an advantage, as being the shortest way round the turning, but the jookey must know when to seek this advantage, and to avoid being shut in, as sometimes happens.—" Standard."