George Archibald (jockey) George Archibald (jockey) George William Archibald (1890 – April 5, 1927) was an American jockey. He rode the winning horse Meridian in the 1911 Kentucky Derby. He was also a Champion Jockey in Germany where he rode for Baron Simon Alfred Oppenheim's Schlenderhan stable. He won the 1913 German 2000 Guineas and German St. Leger on Orchidee II and the 1914 German Oaks on Ariel. Archibald came to England in 1922 to take up retainer with Peter Gilpin at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket. He won the 2000 Guineas with St. Louis. He rode in the Epsom Derby for King George
1780 Epsom Derby between the gentlemen of Middlesex and the gentlemen of Wiltshire". In fact, Lord Derby himself was known to prefer cock-fighting to horse racing. Moreover, in those days, the journey from London to Epsom took around 12 to 14 hours over difficult roads. All this combined to mean there were few spectators. The day is reported to have a comparatively meagre attendance, probably fewer than 5,000. Also in contrast to today, there were no professional bookmakers, the gentlemen making books among themselves. All in all, it could be said that, "no public interest had yet attached itself to a race destined