[1][3][4] Although later said to be Jewish, his father and mother came from Christian families,[5] his cousin Alfred Stearn was a Vicar of Swaffham Bulbeck.

[1][9] In 1898, at 17 years of age, in Colombes Stern won his first race riding Finlas, a horse owned and trained by his father.

[1] In 1900, he won the debut Grand Prix de Deauville, riding Amedee.

[1][10][11][12] He was a six-time winner of the Prix du Jockey Club’s French Derby—in 1901 (Saxon), 1904 (Ajax), 1908 (Quintette), 1913 (Dagor), 1914 (Sardanapale), and 1922 (Ramus).

[1] He won the Grand Prix de Paris in 1904 (Ajax), 1913 (Bruleur), 1914 (Sardanapale), and 1922 (Ramus).