Rare Watercolour of Fred Archer by Astor

A Rare Watercolour of the great jockey Fred Archer by Astor (signed) with a date 1878 (as seen in picture).

Frederick James "Fred" Archer (January 11, 1857 – November 8, 1886) was an flat race jockey who was the most successful sportsman in horse racing during the Victorian Era. The National Horse Racing Museum describes him as "the best all-round jockey that the Turf has ever seen."

Archer wasChampion Jockey for 13 consecutive years until 1886, riding 2,748 winners from 8,084 starts. In 1885 he rode 246 winners, a record that wasn't broken until Gordon Richards' 1933 season. He won the Epsom Derby five times and won a total of 21 classic races.

However, because of his height (5 ft 10in/1.78 m) he had to diet far more than other jockeys. This had an effect on his health, and after suffering from depression following the death of his wife, Helen Rose, Fred committed suicide by shooting himself. He was 29.

Since his death there have been many reported sightings of Archer on a ghostly white horse at the Pegasus Stables.

30 x 20 cms

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