Archer (horse)

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Archer was an Australian thoroughbred racehorse who won the first two Melbourne Cups in 1861 and 1862.

Archer was foaled near Nowra in NSW in 1856 from the dam Maid of Oaks and sire William Tell.

The first Melbourne Cup was an eventful affair when one horse bolted before the start, and three of the seventeen starters fell during the race. Etienne De Mestre, who trained five cup winners, trained Archer went on to win easily from Mormon and Prince.

A year later Archer returned to Flemington and carried 10st 2 lb, to defeat a field of twenty starters by ten lengths, with Mormon again running second.

As there was no rail link between Sydney and Melbourne at that time, Archer was walked 500 miles to run in both races.

Despite his owner's intention to race Archer for a third Melbourne Cup, he was unable to do so because of a technical error. Archer's acceptance nomination to race failed to arrive in time because it was delayed in the post. As a result, owners scratched many horses, in a show of solidarity. This left a starting field of only seven horses that history shows was to be the smallest field of horses to race in the Melbourne Cup.

At ten years of age, Archer fell in a race and was retired to stud but his place in history was forever cemented as the the first Melbourne Cup winner.