Andrew Merriam, long a prominent figure on the East Anglian pointing scene as well as in rules racing, has been chair of the PPA for the past five years and is now entering his last season in the role. In the final edition of the summer series of “Pointing People”, he opens up to Jake Exelby about his life, his career in racing, his pride in the achievements of his son Alex and reflects on his time in charge of point-to-pointing.
by Jake Exelby, South Midlands Area PRO
Tell me about yourselfI’m an Essex boy – I was born in Colchester and my family had a plastics business in Manningtree. I’m a chartered accountant by training, and spent most of my career working in London, firstly as a stockbroker, then for an investment bank, before starting my own private client management fund with a colleague, which we then sold. My parents had moved to Somerset to run my mother’s family’s business – Bradfords of Yeovil, founded in 1750 and one of the country’s biggest independent builders’ merchants – and I left the City to join them as Executive Chairman. I’m semi-retired now, but I still hold some non-executive directorships and trusteeships and am on the board of three racing charities – the British Racing School, Retraining of Racehorses and Racing to School.
Tell me about your background in point-to-pointing and racing
I’m told that my first appearance at a point-to-point was in a carrycot, at Moulton in 1949. My first pointing memory was also at Moulton, as a four-year-old, when I remember Fergie Sutherland – who later trained Imperial Call to win the Gold Cup – finishing second in the Members riding with only one leg. I used to be given two shillings a week pocket money, which was the minimum bet on the Tote at the time, and became mad keen on pointing. I was away at school, but used to go every weekend during the holidays. My sister – Tessa Woodhouse – rode in point-to-points in Somerset. She was the first woman to ride in a Mixed Open, in the Coronation Cup, on Blotto in 1976, the third year Lord Fortune won.
My first involvement as an owner came when I married Jean – a keen amateur eventer who’s also passionate about pointing – and we decided we’d like to have a horse. Jean trained two or three from home for about 15 years and most of them were pretty useless, although we had about 17 winners, the best of whom was probably Wistino. We used to do our fast work on the Newmarket Links gallop with other owner-trainers and enjoy a sloe gin afterwards – we had a lot of fun. The whole family is mad keen on pointing, including my daughter Henrietta, an aspiring actress. When Jean stopped, we had our horses trained by the Blooms.
I’ve stewarded a great deal, and was chair of the East Anglian Area and of the PPSA. I was also on the former Point-to-Point Liaison Committee. Under rules, I was a Steward (director) of the Jockey Club over a period of 15 years, having been a member since 1997. Ny first major role was chairman of its disciplinary committee, then chairman of Jockey Club Estates. Latterly, I was on the board of the BHA. When I joined the Jockey Club, I became more involved in professional racing, which coincided with Alex’s riding career.
Who's inspired you most in the world of pointing?
As a boy, Guy Cunard and Dick Barclay, who used to ride at Moulton – if I could, I’d have chosen him to be my godfather. Later on, Anthony Round, who got me into stewarding and all of the Turner family.
Who have been your favourite horses?
Growing up, Vasco Da Gama and Hard Frost. Of those I owned, Royal Banker, Cormeen Lord, who we got from John Sharp and who became Alex’s schoolmaster and Always On The Line – who was probably our best horse. He was difficult, but won seven races. My best horse wasn’t a pointer, but La Bague Au Roi, who I co-owned with Nicky Turner and who won two Grade One Novices Chases for Warren Greatrex.
Always On The Line and Alex at Cheltenham
La Bague Au Roi - best horse
Which jockeys have you most admired?
David Wales, Michael and Nibby Bloom and Lisa Rowe (now Lisa Hancock and Chief Executive of the Injured Jockeys Fund). She rode the only double Jean trained – on Gilson’s Cove and Wistino in 1996.
Lisa Hancock - rode double for Andrew
What have been your favourite courses?
Moulton was probably my favourite and I also loved Hethersett and was a huge fan of Cottenham. Further afield, I like Chaddesley Corbett. I’ve been to over 100 courses in my time and about 40 of those still in existence. I try to get around as much as I can.
Moulton point-to-point
What’s been the highlight of your time in the sport?
Alex winning the Wilkinson Sword (award for riders who hadn’t ridden a winner at the start of the season) in 2003, in which Always On The Line was instrumental, was one of my happiest moments, along with Alex’s first ever win, just pipping Nibby Bloom. He turned professional and won 78 races, along with about 40 in points. He’s now assistant to champion flat trainer Charlie Appleby.
Alex in his riding days
What has been your personal funniest moment in the sport?
My first official role was as advance flag man at Higham. One day, there was a false start – I stood my ground and my sister and Josie Turner went either side of me, Josie taking off my bowler hat as she went past!
Racing at Higham
What changes have you seen during your time? For better, for worse?
Changes for the better can also be seen as being for the worse. For example, the advance in veterinary and medical science is fantastic, but comes at a big expense. But the injury statistics have improved massively – for both horses and riders and better fitness levels, again for both, make racing more competitive. However, this means the top jockeys get more rides and makes it more difficult for owner riders and lesser horses, who are getting pushed out of the sport.
Pointing used to be all about farmers and the local community and it seemed like the friendships and fun we had were better in the old days. In some ways, the sport’s become too professional, but it had to, in order to survive. I can’t remember who it was who said, “To remain truly amateur, we have to get more professional.”
As chair of the PPA, what have been your greatest achievements?
Hiring Peter Wright, going to lots of point-to-points across the country, being a safe pair of hands – a proper non-executive chair – and being able to unlock a few doors in the BHA and Jockey Club.
Do you have any regrets?
No, I’m not someone who has regrets. I like to look forward – not back – and if something goes wrong, I try to fix it.
What advice would you give to your successor?
To really listen to what people have to say and to get to know everyone, not just the loud voices. To travel round the country and talk up point-to-pointing – numbers may be down, but any sport starting with 1,600 horses would be in clover. It’s not just about horse numbers, it’s about the balance of meetings and horses and competitive racing.
With horse numbers at their lowest ever level, what are your concerns about the future and what reasons do we have to be optimistic?
There’s quite a lot to be optimistic about and we’ll continue to find ways of getting more horses, for example four-year-olds. My concerns are that, with so many more leisure activities nowadays, people will give up but there are opportunities within the lower tiers of rules racing and I think we should consider allowing licenced trainers to run horses in Maidens.
What are your plans for next season?
I’ll be involved in syndicates with Phil Rowley. We buy foals, Robbie Haag breaks them in and Jean looks after them. Some go straight to Warren Greatrex and some go pointing with Phil and are then sold to race under rules. I’m particularly keen on a Spanish Moon three-year-old this year.
Phil Rowley (left) - syndicates for next season
What are your non-horsey hobbies?
Shooting, other country pursuits and sport in general.
Who would be your ideal dinner party guests?
David Minton, Lydia Hislop, Kirsten Rausing and Sir Mark Prescott. I’ve sat next to all of them at some stage, and they’re not all like-minded, so it would be a hell of a discussion!
Lydia Hislop - good company
Tell me something I wouldn’t know from asking these questions
I’m a Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk. It bestows no privileges, but I help the Lord Lieutenant, who represents the monarch. It was a great honour to be asked and I’ve been lucky enough to have ridden in a carriage at Royal Ascot.
Great honour