Background
Archer was born to Grand National winning jockey William Archer in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1857.
Archer was born to Grand National winning jockey William Archer in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in 1857.
He set records for the number of Champion Jockey titles (13), number of wins in a season (246) and number of race wins (2748) which remained unthreatened until the arrival of Steve Donoghue and Sir Gordon Richards well into the 20th Century. A "quick, retentive, and exceedingly secretive boy", at the age of 11 he became apprentice to trainer Mathew Dawson at Heath House, now home to trainer Mark Prescott. Archer served Dawson as a stable jockey from 1874 until 1886.
Archer took his sport very seriously and was noted for his ruthlessness.
In 1882 he built Falmouth Lodge and Stables (now Pegasus Stables). He was a taciturn and morose character, known for being miserly with money.
The first of his Classic wins followed two years later on Atlantic in the 1874 2,000 Guineas. Archer was Champion 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.
Because of his height (5 ft 10in/178 m) Archer had to diet far more than other jockeys. Archer had been in a fever for several days and was being attended by his doctor. She then heard him say "Are they coming?" and saw he had the gun in his hand.
Whilst she was struggling with him, he put the gun in his mouth and fired the revolver.
The verdict of the jury at the inquest was: "That the deceased committed suicide whilst in a state of unsound mind". Some of his effects are now on display at the National Horseracing Museum, including the gun with which he shot himself.
In October 2010 a Stevengraph silk portrait of Archer sold at auction for £320. Fred is buried in Newmarket Town Cemetery, Newmarket, Forest Health District, Suffolk, England.
Great Britain
Epsom Derby winners - 1877: Silvio, 1880: Bend Or, 1881: Iroquois, 1885: Melton, 1886: Ormonde
1,000 Guineas winners - 1875: Spinaway, 1879: Wheel of Fortune
2,000 Guineas winners - 1874: Atlantic, 1879: Charibert, 1883: Galliard, 1885: Paradox
Epsom Oaks winners - 1875: Spinaway, 1878: Jannette, 1880: Wheel of Fortune, 1885: Lonely
Saint Leger winners - 1877: Silvio, 1878: Jannette, 1881: Iroquois, 1882: Dutch Oven, 1885: Melton, 1886: Ormonde
France
Grand Prix de Paris - Bruce (1882), Paradox (1885), Minting (1886)
Prix du Jockey Club - Beauminet (1880), Frontin (1883).