Champion Trainer - 2003
Fisher breaks through with first Championship
(Reprinted from American Steeplechasing - 2003)

In 1994, Jack Fisher finished second in the NSA trainer standings with 30 wins, a benchmark number that would have meant a title in each of the eight years that followed. The accomplishment - second to Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard - drew comparisons, pats on the back and lots of "that young guy Fisher's on his way" pronouncements.

Only that's as far as Fisher got. For the next eight seasons, he was competitive (finishing second twice more) but couldn't get over the hump. Sheppard won two more titles, Tom Voss captured four and Bruce Miller and Sanna Hendriks won their first titles during that span. Fisher was a perennial contender - and never a champion.

Until 2003, a season which looked promising from the start.

"In February, I remember thinking that I had a pretty well-balanced barn. I had something like four stakes horses, four claimers, five timber horses, four maidens, four maiden claimers so it was a pretty balanced group," Fisher said. "It was somewhat by design. (In 2002), I had 15 timber horses and I said, 'This is absurd I have to run all of these horses against each other, ' so I didn't take some timber horses this year."

Fisher won 26 races to edge Kathy Neilson by five winners. Three-time defending champion Voss won 19 to place third. Charlie's Dewan led the way with three wins and a timber championship. Resurrected stakes horses Dynability and Indispensable won features. Kebo Valley, with Fisher's wife, Sheila, aboard, won three foxhunter races.

The barn was live early. Dancewel and Regal Again gave Fisher a double at Little Everglades. Ethical Actions took two claimers. Shamrock Isle dominated the Atlanta Cup. Darn Tipalarm, Charlie's Dewan and Iron Orebid swept timber races. And by the end of the spring, Fisher led Ricky Hendriks by two victories Voss had won only two races. Then Fisher's run stalled.

"They ran well all spring and then ran bad in the summer so I folded up shop at Saratoga," said Fisher. "When things are going bad there is no sense forcing it."

Indispensable stopped the barn's 1-for-20 skid by winning at Shawan Downs in September. Charlie's Dewan and Kebo Valley scored later in the day and a fall to remember was underway. Fisher turned aside Voss and Neilson, and sealed the title with a triple at Callaway Gardens in November.

"I wasn't confident until Callaway Gardens. It goes in cycles. You're doing the same stuff, sometimes everything falls into line and other times you can't get them to win," Fisher said. "I was the most proud of Charlie. I wanted to run Dynability for $15,000 and (owner Andre Brewster) wouldn't let me and he won two features. Kebo Valley won three races for us."

Renowned for hard work, disarming comments in interviews and practical jokes, Fisher gained perspective on the championship road.

"I try to keep the horses happy. I think that's the most important part - to not get too into the training even though I have a problem with that," Fisher said. "If they work well or if they don't, I try not to get too worried about that. I've decided that when I force the issue I screw it up."

Consider the championship issue totally unforced.