Vanity Fair’s Turf
The Jockeys
When the magazine caricatured you, England had agreed on you.
The Vanity Fair turf plates — the 1881 Archer leading — admitted the great jockeys to the gallery of the notable at the height of their reigns. The whip held like a scepter, the caricaturist conceding the crown. Long-historic British figures: the house’s clear publicity lane throughout.
1881–1914 · Britain
The Jockey — Fred Archer
The greatest jockey of the Victorian turf, admitted to Vanity Fair’s gallery at the height of his reign.
Sam Loates (Vanity Fair)
Sam Loates in Spy's hand, another of the riding Loateses set down for the turf's picture gallery.
Mr Arthur Coventry, 'The Baby' (Vanity Fair)
The gentleman rider Arthur Coventry, 'The Baby', drawn by Spy with the ease of the amateur in the saddle.
Lester Reiff, 'Lester' (Vanity Fair)
Lester Reiff drawn by Spy, the elder of the American brothers who rode the English turf at the century's turn.
James Woodburn (Vanity Fair)
Spy sets down the jockey James Woodburn in silks, a working rider given his turn in the weekly gallery.
Frank Wootton (Vanity Fair)
The champion apprentice Frank Wootton set down by Spy in 1909, a boy already at the head of the riders' table.
Tom Cannon (Vanity Fair)
Tom Cannon caught by Spy in his silks, the stylist's seat that fathered a dynasty of riders.
Arthur Templeman, 'A Rising Star' (Vanity Fair)
Spy tips Arthur Templeman as 'a rising star', an Edwardian apprentice caught with the season ahead of him.
John Reiff, 'Johnny' (Vanity Fair)
The young American Johnny Reiff in Spy's caricature, a boy rider making his name on English courses.
Arthur James (Vanity Fair)
The turfman Arthur James set down by Spy in Edwardian day dress, the enclosure's easy authority in his stance.
Mr George Thursby (Vanity Fair)
The gentleman rider George Thursby in Spy's Edwardian caricature, the amateur who could hold his own among professionals.
Fred Rickaby, 'Rick' (Vanity Fair)
Fred Rickaby, 'Rick', in Spy's Edwardian caricature, first of a riding line that would run for generations.
Frederick Barne (Vanity Fair)
Spy sets down the turfman Frederick Barne, a fixture of the enclosure caught in his day dress.
William Crawfurd Stirling-Stuart (Vanity Fair)
Spy draws the owner-sportsman Stirling-Stuart in Edwardian tweeds, a familiar figure of the paddock rail.
William Higgs, 'Top of the List' (Vanity Fair)
William Higgs, 'top of the list' for the season, drawn by Spy in the fullness of his Edwardian form.
Tom Loates (Vanity Fair)
Spy renders Tom Loates trim in the paddock, a champion of the flat drawn with affectionate exactness.