Les Fisher
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Les Fisher held a licence from 1950 to 1967 and rode 38 winners during his career, combining riding with training for the latter part.
National Hunt jockey Les Fisher held a licence from 1950 to 1967 and rode 38 winners during his career, combining riding with training for the latter part.
Christened Arthur Leslie Fisher but always known as Les, he was born on April 15, 1927 and was the younger brother of Walter Edward (Ted) Fisher (born February 27, 1923) who also rode over jumps and then trained while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence.
Christened Arthur Leslie Fisher but always known as Les, he was born on April 15, 1927 and was the younger brother of Walter Edward (Ted) Fisher (born February 27, 1923) who also rode over jumps and then trained while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence.
Les rode his first winner on a horse named Donaghadee in a Doncaster novices’ chase on March 19, 1951, trained by Bertie Bullock at Ripon.
Les rode his first winner on a horse named Donaghadee in a Doncaster novices’ chase on March 19, 1951, trained by Bertie Bullock at Ripon.
The following season saw Les riding for Solomon Parker, who trained at Rhyl, North Wales and provided him with all nine of his winners that term, the last of which, Moor Flower in a Cartmel selling hurdle on Whit Monday 1952, resulted in his claim being reduced to 5lb. The best of these was handicap chaser Owersby Moor, on whom he won three times that season and twice the next. Les shared the rides at Parker’s yard with the more experienced Tommy Shone but he managed an ‘outside’ winner at Cartmel on Whit Monday 1953 on novice chaser Hop Leys, trained by Bob Ward at Hednesford.
The following season saw Les riding for Solomon Parker, who trained at Rhyl, North Wales and provided him with all nine of his winners that term, the last of which, Moor Flower in a Cartmel selling hurdle on Whit Monday 1952, resulted in his claim being reduced to 5lb. The best of these was handicap chaser Owersby Moor, on whom he won three times that season and twice the next. Les shared the rides at Parker’s yard with the more experienced Tommy Shone but he managed an ‘outside’ winner at Cartmel on Whit Monday 1953 on novice chaser Hop Leys, trained by Bob Ward at Hednesford.
He rode just one winner in the 1953/54 campaign but as it was his fifteenth in all it resulted in him losing the right to claim an allowance and, as had been the case with his brother Ted when losing his claim, Les struggled for winners thereafter, achieving just five over the course of the next four seasons.
He rode just one winner in the 1953/54 campaign but as it was his fifteenth in all it resulted in him losing the right to claim an allowance and, as had been the case with his brother Ted when losing his claim, Les struggled for winners thereafter, achieving just five over the course of the next four seasons.
He was thrown a lifeline when his elder brother Ted began training in the late 1950s and installed Les as stable jockey. Furthermore, as with Ted, a change of rules permitting riders who had ridden 15 winners to claim 3lb until they’d ridden 25 meant that Les was once again entitled to an allowance. Ted supplied him with his first winner for almost two years when Lewes obliged at Warwick in December 1958, and later that season he scored twice on Frank Gilman’s handicap chaser Captain Courage, first at Huntingdon on Easter Monday 1959 and then in Uttoxeter’s Hawthorn Memorial Challenge Cup. Gilman also provided Les with his sole success of the following season, Another Cob, who got the better of his sole rival in a Huntingdon hurdle race.
He was thrown a lifeline when his elder brother Ted began training in the late 1950s and installed Les as stable jockey. Furthermore, as with Ted, a change of rules permitting riders who had ridden 15 winners to claim 3lb until they’d ridden 25 meant that Les was once again entitled to an allowance. Ted supplied him with his first winner for almost two years when Lewes obliged at Warwick in December 1958, and later that season he scored twice on Frank Gilman’s handicap chaser Captain Courage, first at Huntingdon on Easter Monday 1959 and then in Uttoxeter’s Hawthorn Memorial Challenge Cup. Gilman also provided Les with his sole success of the following season, Another Cob, who got the better of his sole rival in a Huntingdon hurdle race.
Meanwhile, Ted’s main owner, Richard Crossman, had taken out a permit and relocated from Tetbury, in Gloucestershire, initially to Great Chishill, near Royston, from where he sent out Corolanty Lass to win a brace of Newton Abbot chases in August 1960 with Les on board. He then moved again to Nuthurst, near Horsham, in Sussex, and provided Les with another winner on Prince Conkers at Southwell. Later that year, Les won a Leicester maiden hurdle on Bold Biri, while an Easter Monday winner on handicap chaser Tornalys gave him a score of five for the season.
Meanwhile, Ted’s main owner, Richard Crossman, had taken out a permit and relocated from Tetbury, in Gloucestershire, initially to Great Chishill, near Royston, from where he sent out Corolanty Lass to win a brace of Newton Abbot chases in August 1960 with Les on board. He then moved again to Nuthurst, near Horsham, in Sussex, and provided Les with another winner on Prince Conkers at Southwell. Later that year, Les won a Leicester maiden hurdle on Bold Biri, while an Easter Monday winner on handicap chaser Tornalys gave him a score of five for the season.
Bold Biri, owner-trained by Arthur Leigh Boulter at Queeniborough, Leicestershire, won again the next season and Les doubled his score for that campaign with victory on selling chaser Scarlet Raider at Huntingdon on Whit Monday 1962.
Bold Biri, owner-trained by Arthur Leigh Boulter at Queeniborough, Leicestershire, won again the next season and Les doubled his score for that campaign with victory on selling chaser Scarlet Raider at Huntingdon on Whit Monday 1962.
His four winners for the 1962/63 season were all for different trainers: Arthur Leigh Boulter’s Bold Biri was the first, winning at Leicester in November; Brown Nutec won a Birmingham handicap chase in December for Wymondham trainer Jack Bloom; selling chaser Tornalys was an Easter winner at Towcester for Rugby permit holder William Cullen; and novice chaser Southern Fort was a late season victory at Uttoxeter for Scotforth handler Horace Cousins.
His four winners for the 1962/63 season were all for different trainers: Arthur Leigh Boulter’s Bold Biri was the first, winning at Leicester in November; Brown Nutec won a Birmingham handicap chase in December for Wymondham trainer Jack Bloom; selling chaser Tornalys was an Easter winner at Towcester for Rugby permit holder William Cullen; and novice chaser Southern Fort was a late season victory at Uttoxeter for Scotforth handler Horace Cousins.
His sole success of the 1963/64 season was on handicap hurdler Briarstone at Southwell in April. Briarstone was one of two horses, the other being a mare named Betmarie, trained by permit holder Arthur Hackett at Rectory Farm, Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, near Melton Mowbray.
His sole success of the 1963/64 season was on handicap hurdler Briarstone at Southwell in April. Briarstone was one of two horses, the other being a mare named Betmarie, trained by permit holder Arthur Hackett at Rectory Farm, Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, near Melton Mowbray.
At the start of the next season, Les set up as a fully licensed trainer at neighbouring Ratcliffe Farm Stables and took over the training of Briarstone and Betmarie, along with half a dozen others, while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence. He trained and rode Betmarie to win a pair of Wolverhampton hurdle races early in 1965. These proved to be the final two winners of his riding career. Betmarie was also his last ride in public when finishing fourth in a Market Rasen handicap hurdle on May 13, 1967.
At the start of the next season, Les set up as a fully licensed trainer at neighbouring Ratcliffe Farm Stables and took over the training of Briarstone and Betmarie, along with half a dozen others, while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence. He trained and rode Betmarie to win a pair of Wolverhampton hurdle races early in 1965. These proved to be the final two winners of his riding career. Betmarie was also his last ride in public when finishing fourth in a Market Rasen handicap hurdle on May 13, 1967.
In 1969 Les relocated his training operation from Ratcliffe Farm to Hermitage Stables, Gaddesby, Leicestershire. He trained there for eight years before moving again, this time to Saxelby Park Stables, Melton Mowbray, where he remained until relinquishing his trainer’s licence in 1980.
In 1969 Les relocated his training operation from Ratcliffe Farm to Hermitage Stables, Gaddesby, Leicestershire. He trained there for eight years before moving again, this time to Saxelby Park Stables, Melton Mowbray, where he remained until relinquishing his trainer’s licence in 1980.
Les Fisher died in 2009.
Les Fisher died in 2009.
Les Fisher’s winners were, in chronological order:
Les Fisher’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Donaghadee, Doncaster, March 19, 1951
1. Donaghadee, Doncaster, March 19, 1951
2. Owersby Moor, Wolverhampton, November 13, 1951
2. Owersby Moor, Wolverhampton, November 13, 1951
3. Owersby Moor, Hereford, November 17, 1951
3. Owersby Moor, Hereford, November 17, 1951
4. Signal Call, Haydock Park, November 30, 1951
4. Signal Call, Haydock Park, November 30, 1951
5. Okotoks, Manchester, December 7, 1951
5. Okotoks, Manchester, December 7, 1951
6. Tango Twist, Wolverhampton, December 16, 1951
6. Tango Twist, Wolverhampton, December 16, 1951
7. Signal Call, Manchester, January 2, 1952
7. Signal Call, Manchester, January 2, 1952
8. Owersby Moor, Haydock Park, January 4, 1962
8. Owersby Moor, Haydock Park, January 4, 1962
9. Signal Call, Ludlow, February 28, 1962
9. Signal Call, Ludlow, February 28, 1962
10. Moor Flower, Cartmel, June 2, 1952
10. Moor Flower, Cartmel, June 2, 1952
11. Owersby Moor, Bangor-on-Dee, October 25, 1952
11. Owersby Moor, Bangor-on-Dee, October 25, 1952
12. Merrymart, Birmingham, November 18, 1952
12. Merrymart, Birmingham, November 18, 1952
13. Owersby Moor, Warwick, February 3, 1953
13. Owersby Moor, Warwick, February 3, 1953
14. Hop Leys, Cartmel, May 25, 1953
14. Hop Leys, Cartmel, May 25, 1953
15. Scottish Faith, Warwick, January 22, 1954
15. Scottish Faith, Warwick, January 22, 1954
16. Scottish Faith, Birmingham, November 16, 1954
16. Scottish Faith, Birmingham, November 16, 1954
17. Reynolds, Leicester, January 11, 1955
17. Reynolds, Leicester, January 11, 1955
18. Arctic Lass, Birmingham, November 5, 1956
18. Arctic Lass, Birmingham, November 5, 1956
19. Shah Perle, Leicester, December 4, 1956
19. Shah Perle, Leicester, December 4, 1956
20. Evangelist, Birmingham, February 25, 1957
20. Evangelist, Birmingham, February 25, 1957
21. Lewes, Warwick, December 13, 1958
21. Lewes, Warwick, December 13, 1958
22. Captain Courage, Huntingdon, March 30, 1959
22. Captain Courage, Huntingdon, March 30, 1959
23. Captain Courage, Uttoxeter, April 20, 1959
23. Captain Courage, Uttoxeter, April 20, 1959
24. Another Cob, Huntingdon, October 24, 1959
24. Another Cob, Huntingdon, October 24, 1959
25. Corolanty Lass, Newton Abbot, August 13, 1960
25. Corolanty Lass, Newton Abbot, August 13, 1960
26. Corolanty Lass, Newton Abbot, August 31, 1960
26. Corolanty Lass, Newton Abbot, August 31, 1960
27. Prince Conkers, Southwell, December 19, 1960
27. Prince Conkers, Southwell, December 19, 1960
28. Bold Biri, Leicester, February 14, 1961
28. Bold Biri, Leicester, February 14, 1961
29. Tornalys, Huntingdon, April 3, 1961
29. Tornalys, Huntingdon, April 3, 1961
30. Bold Biri, Uttoxeter, November 17, 1961
30. Bold Biri, Uttoxeter, November 17, 1961
31. Scarlet Raider, Huntingdon, June 11, 1962
31. Scarlet Raider, Huntingdon, June 11, 1962
32. Bold Biri, Leicester, November 27, 1962
32. Bold Biri, Leicester, November 27, 1962
33. Brown Nutec, Birmingham, December 11, 1962
33. Brown Nutec, Birmingham, December 11, 1962
34. Tornalys, Towcester, April 11, 1963
34. Tornalys, Towcester, April 11, 1963
35. Southern Fort, Uttoxeter, May 11, 1963
35. Southern Fort, Uttoxeter, May 11, 1963
36. Briarstone, Southwell, April 20, 1964
36. Briarstone, Southwell, April 20, 1964
37. Betmarie, Wolverhampton, January 25, 1965
37. Betmarie, Wolverhampton, January 25, 1965
38. Betmarie, Wolverhampton, February 25, 1965
38. Betmarie, Wolverhampton, February 25, 1965