William H. Fires

William H. "Jinks" Fires (born July 23, 1940 in Rivervale, Arkansas) is the trainer of 2011 G1 Arkansas Derby winner and Kentucky Derby starter, Archarcharch.  His family includes wife Penny, daughters Candice and Kristal and son Douglas, a Captain in the US Marine Corps and Cobra helicopter pilot.

Trainer Jinks Fires, usually among the leaders at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs has trained such stakes winners as Arkansas Derby winner, ARCHARCHARCH, owned by longtime client Bob Yagos and Patricia Blass’ Bluegrass Bull, third in the Smarty Jones.

Fires has trained for Patricia and Gus "Buddy" Blass and their colorful line of “Shoe” horses for more than 30 years. Most recently they found success with Prom Shoes, the winner of the 2008 Fifth Season Stakes and 2009 Essex Handicap, who was retired at the beginning of the 2011 meet with nearly $500,000 in earning.

Prior to Archarcharch, one of the best horses Fires trained for Yagos was multiple stakes winner Spotsgone, who won the 2010 Razorback Handicap.  Fires also trained for famed Calumet Farm including Aly Mar who won the 1990 Turfway Championship H.  Another good trainee was Nurse Dopy, who won 16 of 32 races and earned the title of Arkansas Horse of the Year in 1991.

The native of Riverdale, Arkansas is the second eldest of the popular racing family. Of the nine boys and two girl in the Fires family, eight boys, at one time or the other, worked in the business with the most widely known being Hall of Fame jockey Earlie Fires. Another brother, Bucky, was a popular outrider in New York and Chicago as well as Hot Springs. Keeping things in the family, the regular rider for Archarcharch is Fires’ son-in-law jockey Jon Court.