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Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
South-west-based National Hunt jockey Ted Fisher had a career that spanned 18 years, combining riding with training for the latter part.
South-west-based National Hunt jockey Ted Fisher had a career that spanned 18 years, combining riding with training for the latter part.
Christened Walter Edward Fisher but always known as Ted, he was born on February 27, 1923 and was the elder brother of Arthur Leslie (Les) Fisher (born April 15, 1927) who also rode over jumps and then trained while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence.
Christened Walter Edward Fisher but always known as Ted, he was born on February 27, 1923 and was the elder brother of Arthur Leslie (Les) Fisher (born April 15, 1927) who also rode over jumps and then trained while continuing to hold a jockey’s licence.
Ted started out with Peter Payne-Gallwey, who trained at Wimborne, Dorset. Formerly of the 11th Hussars, Payne-Gallwey had been a top-class soldier-rider in his day and had ridden almost 60 winners between 1931 and 1935 including the 1931 Grand Military Gold Cup on Backsight. Ted rode his first winner on Payne-Gallwey’s novice chaser Famiranda at Taunton on May 17, 1951.
Ted started out with Peter Payne-Gallwey, who trained at Wimborne, Dorset. Formerly of the 11th Hussars, Payne-Gallwey had been a top-class soldier-rider in his day and had ridden almost 60 winners between 1931 and 1935 including the 1931 Grand Military Gold Cup on Backsight. Ted rode his first winner on Payne-Gallwey’s novice chaser Famiranda at Taunton on May 17, 1951.
He rode three winners the following season, all for Payne-Gallwey, including a decent two-mile chaser named Rondo II, who then provided Ted with two of his five wins in the 1952/53 campaign, which also included back-to-back course and distance victories at Wincanton on Payne-Gallwey’s juvenile hurdler Earlswood.
He rode three winners the following season, all for Payne-Gallwey, including a decent two-mile chaser named Rondo II, who then provided Ted with two of his five wins in the 1952/53 campaign, which also included back-to-back course and distance victories at Wincanton on Payne-Gallwey’s juvenile hurdler Earlswood.
The next decent two-mile chaser Ted rode was Big Bill, on whom he won the Kingsclere Handicap Chase at Newbury on New Year’s Day 1954, beating Dave Dick on the classy Prince of Denmark by a neck in a stirring finish. Three weeks later, Big Bill won the valuable Newbury January Chase over course and distance, initiating a double for Ted, completed half an hour later by Knight’s Gambit in a handicap hurdle. The following month Big Bill won the Newbury Spring Handicap Chase, beating Rex Hamey’s mount D.U.K.W. by a short-head. As before, all of his six winners that season were trained by Payne-Gallwey.
The next decent two-mile chaser Ted rode was Big Bill, on whom he won the Kingsclere Handicap Chase at Newbury on New Year’s Day 1954, beating Dave Dick on the classy Prince of Denmark by a neck in a stirring finish. Three weeks later, Big Bill won the valuable Newbury January Chase over course and distance, initiating a double for Ted, completed half an hour later by Knight’s Gambit in a handicap hurdle. The following month Big Bill won the Newbury Spring Handicap Chase, beating Rex Hamey’s mount D.U.K.W. by a short-head. As before, all of his six winners that season were trained by Payne-Gallwey.
Quite what happened next is hard to say, though it may have been related to the loss of Ted’s claim, which in those days expired after just 15 winners. Big Bill was sent off the even-money favourite for a race at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting but finished second, after which Ted lost the ride in favour of Bryan Marshall. Furthermore, a 7lb claimer named Tom Dearie began riding Payne-Gallwey’s horses, and Ted did not ride a winner in four of the next five seasons. His sole successes came on a chaser named Golter, trained by Albert Piper, at Wincanton in November 1955 and selling hurdler Crack o’ Dawn at Huntingdon on Whit Monday 1956.
Quite what happened next is hard to say, though it may have been related to the loss of Ted’s claim, which in those days expired after just 15 winners. Big Bill was sent off the even-money favourite for a race at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting but finished second, after which Ted lost the ride in favour of Bryan Marshall. Furthermore, a 7lb claimer named Tom Dearie began riding Payne-Gallwey’s horses, and Ted did not ride a winner in four of the next five seasons. His sole successes came on a chaser named Golter, trained by Albert Piper, at Wincanton in November 1955 and selling hurdler Crack o’ Dawn at Huntingdon on Whit Monday 1956.
In 1957 Ted took out a trainer’s licence, based initially at Mill End Stables, Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire, and then at Pond Farm Stables at Shirton Moyne, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. He installed his brother Les as stable jockey.
In 1957 Ted took out a trainer’s licence, based initially at Mill End Stables, Cherry Hinton, Cambridgeshire, and then at Pond Farm Stables at Shirton Moyne, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. He installed his brother Les as stable jockey.
A change of rules in the late 1950s permitting riders who had ridden 15 winners to claim 3lb until they’d ridden 25 meant that Ted was once again entitled to an allowance. The main owner in the yard, Richard Crossman, took it over as a permit holder and duly supplied Ted with his first winner for nearly four years, courtesy of novice chaser Prince Conkers at Southwell in April 1960. Crossman’s Greenberry Star got Ted off the mark for 1960/61 when winning at Wincanton in October and Highland Myth landed a late season Devon & Exeter selling hurdle. Albert Piper’s handicap chaser Cuban Tan gave Ted his third winner of the campaign.
A change of rules in the late 1950s permitting riders who had ridden 15 winners to claim 3lb until they’d ridden 25 meant that Ted was once again entitled to an allowance. The main owner in the yard, Richard Crossman, took it over as a permit holder and duly supplied Ted with his first winner for nearly four years, courtesy of novice chaser Prince Conkers at Southwell in April 1960. Crossman’s Greenberry Star got Ted off the mark for 1960/61 when winning at Wincanton in October and Highland Myth landed a late season Devon & Exeter selling hurdle. Albert Piper’s handicap chaser Cuban Tan gave Ted his third winner of the campaign.
In 1963 Ted again took out a trainer’s licence, this time based at Colehays Stables, Bovey Tracey, in Devon. However, he was only there for one year before taking over Albert Piper’s yard at Deal Farm, Manaton, Newton Abbot. He continued to hold a jockey’s licence and rode a career-best seven winners during the 1963/64 season, followed by three in 1964/65, all of which he also trained. Half of those ten victories came on a chaser named Timothy J while three were courtesy of veteran Cuban Tan.
In 1963 Ted again took out a trainer’s licence, this time based at Colehays Stables, Bovey Tracey, in Devon. However, he was only there for one year before taking over Albert Piper’s yard at Deal Farm, Manaton, Newton Abbot. He continued to hold a jockey’s licence and rode a career-best seven winners during the 1963/64 season, followed by three in 1964/65, all of which he also trained. Half of those ten victories came on a chaser named Timothy J while three were courtesy of veteran Cuban Tan.
Handicap chasers Cap Spartel and Stainless Ann were the stable stars in the final years of Ted’s riding career, providing him with six wins between them, including his last two in a couple of the south-west’s ‘title’ races at Devon & Exeter in the early weeks of the 1967/68 campaign. Cap Spartel won the “Mousetrap” Challenge Cup and then Stainless Ann landed the John Tilling Champion Challenge Trophy. Ted hung up his saddle at the end of that season, his final ride being when finishing third on novice hurdler Cock House in the Princetown Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on Whit Monday, June 3, 1968.
Handicap chasers Cap Spartel and Stainless Ann were the stable stars in the final years of Ted’s riding career, providing him with six wins between them, including his last two in a couple of the south-west’s ‘title’ races at Devon & Exeter in the early weeks of the 1967/68 campaign. Cap Spartel won the “Mousetrap” Challenge Cup and then Stainless Ann landed the John Tilling Champion Challenge Trophy. Ted hung up his saddle at the end of that season, his final ride being when finishing third on novice hurdler Cock House in the Princetown Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on Whit Monday, June 3, 1968.
In 1969 Ted moved his training operation from Newton Abbot to Bathway Farm, Chewton Mendip, where he continued to train until 1989.
In 1969 Ted moved his training operation from Newton Abbot to Bathway Farm, Chewton Mendip, where he continued to train until 1989.
He died the following year in January 1990, aged 66.
He died the following year in January 1990, aged 66.
Ted Fisher’s winners were, in chronological order:
Ted Fisher’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Famiranda, Taunton., May 17, 1951
1. Famiranda, Taunton., May 17, 1951
2 Rondo II, Hurst Park, November 30, 1951
2 Rondo II, Hurst Park, November 30, 1951
3. Conker II, Wincanton, January 10, 1952
3. Conker II, Wincanton, January 10, 1952
4. Still Noel, Worcester, March 1, 1952
4. Still Noel, Worcester, March 1, 1952
5. Rondo II, Taunton, September 27, 1952
5. Rondo II, Taunton, September 27, 1952
6. Ski Sticks, Fontwell Park, October 6, 1952
6. Ski Sticks, Fontwell Park, October 6, 1952
7. Rondo II, Ludlow, November 1, 1952
7. Rondo II, Ludlow, November 1, 1952
8. Earlswood, Wincanton, December 26, 1952
8. Earlswood, Wincanton, December 26, 1952
9. Earlswood, Wincanton, January 8, 1953
9. Earlswood, Wincanton, January 8, 1953
10. Signorita, Wincanton, October 22, 1953
10. Signorita, Wincanton, October 22, 1953
11. Knight’s Gambit, October 31, 1953
11. Knight’s Gambit, October 31, 1953
12. Big Bill, Newbury, January 1, 1954
12. Big Bill, Newbury, January 1, 1954
13. Big Bill, Newbury, January 21, 1954
13. Big Bill, Newbury, January 21, 1954
14. Knight’s Gambit, Newbury, January 21, 1954
14. Knight’s Gambit, Newbury, January 21, 1954
15. Big Bill, Newbury, February 17. 1954
15. Big Bill, Newbury, February 17. 1954
16. Golter, Wincanton, November 17, 1955
16. Golter, Wincanton, November 17, 1955
17. Crack o’ Dawn, Huntingdon, May 21, 1956
17. Crack o’ Dawn, Huntingdon, May 21, 1956
18. Prince Conkers, Southwell, April 16, 1960
18. Prince Conkers, Southwell, April 16, 1960
19. Prince Conkers, Folkestone, April 25, 1960
19. Prince Conkers, Folkestone, April 25, 1960
20. Greenberry Star, Wincanton, October 6, 1960
20. Greenberry Star, Wincanton, October 6, 1960
21. Greenberry Star, Devon & Exeter, May 22, 1961
21. Greenberry Star, Devon & Exeter, May 22, 1961
22. Cuban Tan, Stratford-on-Avon, May 25, 1961
22. Cuban Tan, Stratford-on-Avon, May 25, 1961
23. Timothy J, Taunton, November 9, 1963
23. Timothy J, Taunton, November 9, 1963
24. Golden Seabright, Taunton, November 23, 1963
24. Golden Seabright, Taunton, November 23, 1963
25. Crownhill, Worcester, March 18, 1964
25. Crownhill, Worcester, March 18, 1964
26. Timothy J, Newton Abbot, March 30, 1964
26. Timothy J, Newton Abbot, March 30, 1964
27. Cuban Tan, Plumpton, April 18, 1964 (dead-heat)
27. Cuban Tan, Plumpton, April 18, 1964 (dead-heat)
28. Timothy J, Ludlow, April 22, 1964
28. Timothy J, Ludlow, April 22, 1964
29. Cuban Tan, Stratford-on-Avon, May 23, 1964
29. Cuban Tan, Stratford-on-Avon, May 23, 1964
30. Cuban Tan, Devon & Exeter, September 2, 1964
30. Cuban Tan, Devon & Exeter, September 2, 1964
31. Timothy J, Windsor, February 24, 1965
31. Timothy J, Windsor, February 24, 1965
32. Timothy J, Ludlow, April 28, 1965
32. Timothy J, Ludlow, April 28, 1965
33. Cap Spartel, Newton Abbot, August 10, 1966
33. Cap Spartel, Newton Abbot, August 10, 1966
34. Golden Spirit, Newton Abbot, August 27, 1966
34. Golden Spirit, Newton Abbot, August 27, 1966
35. Cap Spartel, Newton Abbot, August 29, 1966
35. Cap Spartel, Newton Abbot, August 29, 1966
36. Cap Spartel, Fontwell Park, October 11, 1966
36. Cap Spartel, Fontwell Park, October 11, 1966
37. Stainless Ann, Devon & Exeter, May 29, 1967
37. Stainless Ann, Devon & Exeter, May 29, 1967
38. Cap Spartel, Devon & Exeter, August 23, 1967
38. Cap Spartel, Devon & Exeter, August 23, 1967
39. Stainless Ann, Devon & Exeter, September 7, 1967
39. Stainless Ann, Devon & Exeter, September 7, 1967
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