ON THIS DAY - 11th JANUARY

On this day in 1857 Fred Archer was born in Cheltenham.

He was Champion Jockey for 13 consecutive years until 1886. He rode 2,748 winners from 8,084 starts.

He was nicknamed The Tin Man, and was described at the time as "the best all-round jockey that the turf has ever seen".

One of his most notable victories came in the 1880 Derby, coming from behind on Bend Or to win by a head. In fact he won the Derby five times and won a total of 21 classic races.  His record of winners was only broken decades later by Gordon Richards.

Following the loss of his wife during childbirth, he committed suicide at the age of 29. He left a fortune of £66,662 (equal to about £7.4 million today). Some of his effects are now on display at the National Horseracing Museum, including the gun with which he shot himself.