The Jockeys and the Champions’ Record · The Jockeys
William Higgs, 'Top of the List' (Vanity Fair)
Leslie Ward ('Spy'), chromolithograph, Vanity Fair, 1906 · chromolithograph
What it is
William Higgs, drawn by Spy beneath the caption 'Top of the List' — the season's leading rider set down at the height of his form.
Why it matters
Vanity Fair's captions doubled as a running scorecard of the sport, and 'top of the list' meant exactly what it said: more winners that season than any other jockey riding.
What to notice
the confidence in the stance, drawn without any of the caricaturist's usual gentle mockery.
A number can flatter as much as a likeness.
Provenance
- Maker
- Leslie Ward ('Spy'), chromolithograph, Vanity Fair, 1906
- Era
- The Edwardian Turf (1901–1914)
- Chapter
- The Names on the Board
- Medium
- chromolithograph
- Made
- 1906
- Figure
- William Higgs
- Source
- Vanity Fair caricature
Publicity
Clear — the historic British turf (the Victorian jockeys, the Vanity Fair subjects): a long-deceased figure with no post-mortem right of publicity in play. Sold as history, freely and openly.
Rights: CLEAR. Public domain — U.S. 95-year rule (published 1930 or earlier). Gated by the work’s own year of publication. Cleared by registry on 2026-07-20.
Format
The full-resolution, color-managed file — restored honestly, yours to print and keep.
Sized to protect print quality — this scan's resolution doesn't clear our floor for a physical print, so this piece is offered as a digital download only.
Size
$29.00
More from the Stable Wall
The Jockey — Fred Archer
The Champion at Stride
Sam Loates (Vanity Fair)
Mr Arthur Coventry, 'The Baby' (Vanity Fair)
Elsewhere in the family
- The Links — the other morning religion.
- Painted Lineage — the bloodline, beside the family line.
- Painted Earth — home ground as a period map.