Pointing People: John Gardener

John (right) and Sonia collect another trophy with jockey Josh Newman (Carl Evans)

John Gardener’s red and blue diamonds – which have been worn for 58 years - are among the most recognised colours on the West Country pointing circuit. The horses he owns with his wife Sonia, and in partnership with his friends Terry Hamlin and Torben Hughes, are trained by Josh Newman, Emma Summersby, John Heard and Stuart Sampson, and he is into double figures for wins this season, from the likes of Clondaw Drake, Holiday Fund and Lakota Warrior. Jake Exelby caught-up with this proud but modest Cornishman towards the end of another successful season for him to find out about his lifetime in pointing.

I know you’re a farmer. Where are you based, what is the size of your herd, and how long has your family been there?

I farm at Marhamchurch, near Bude and am the fifth generation to do so. We no longer milk, but I still buy and sell dairy cows and have between 1,100 and 1,200 beef cattle.

How did you get into point-to-pointing in the first place?

I started at pony club and Dad always had hunters. My first winner was Forgotten, at Lemalla in 1979 – she was a tiny little mare, only about 15.3 hands. I didn’t ride her in points myself, but we trained her at home, and used to ride her on Bude beach, alongside Walter Dennis, who trained Hennessy Gold Cup winner Coome Hill.

Who has been your best horse?

I used to be very amateur and only started getting better horses recently. River Myth (who won 12) and Top Chief (who won seven) would have been my first good ones, and my best. They put Terry Hamlin and I on the map. I’d known their trainer Stuart Sampson for years – he got us Top Chief from Gordon Elliott. Then there was Singapore Saga (seven wins including a Hunter Chase) and, this season, Clondaw Drake. Singapore Saga has just had a colt foal by Passing Glance. I said I’d never breed, but she did so well for us and John Heard – who trained her – said we should breed from her.

Two of those you mention – also River Myth – are mares. Do you prefer mares over geldings?

No, but you used to be able to buy a better-bred mare for less than a gelding. Both River Myth and Singapore Saga were really small, but had hearts of lions, and benefitted from the 7lb allowance.

How many pointers do you have in training this season?

I’ve got about six, including those with Terry and Torben. I’ve known Terry for ages – he’s a dairy auctioneer, so I’ve bought cattle from him. Torben and I have been friends for a long time too and have never had a disagreement. We always say, “Business is business, but pointing is fun.” Terry and I toss a coin to see if the horse will run in his colours or mine, and Torben and I alternate.

Funnily enough, at Kilworthy last year, the Members was a dead heat between Takeabid, who I owned with Terry and Liberty Rock, one of mine and Torben’s!

What makes you choose your trainers?

I want to make it 101% clear (!) that I regard all my trainers equally. But I never want to have all my horses in the same place in case there’s a bug.

You race almost exclusively in the West Country. Is that a conscious decision?

I’ve been to Larkhill, and we’ve had runners at Cheltenham and Stratford but there’s a Cornish saying, “Little boats stay close to the shore!”

Why do you love pointing so much? What do you enjoy most about it?

It’s an escape from the farm and I love meeting people. Plus, I’m a little bit competitive! It’s not about the money – you don’t make anything even if you win, indeed it can be cheaper to come second! – but the people and the friendship. My biggest influence has been Richard Barber, a true gentleman who helped me so much with his advice – he would have forgotten more about horses than I’ll ever know. It was an honour to give his grandson Chris his first winner on Top Chief.

What do your family think about your hobby?

Sonia enjoys it as much as I do. My daughters – Sarah and Joanne – both live in Oxfordshire and come racing when they come home.

Do you have horses under rules too? Have you in the past?

Terry and I sent Nickelsonthedime under rules with Kayley Woollacott after he’d won a couple of points and Top Chief went to Colin Tizzard’s between his two stints pointing with Stuart. They both won races for us under rules.

Which current pointer would you most like to own?

He’s racing under rules now, but it would be Gina Andrews’ Latenightpass, bred by his owner, which must be fantastic. Gina came down and rode two winners for me last season – Singapore Saga at Wadebridge and Lakota Warrior at Cherrybrook.

Which jockeys have ridden for you over the years, and which current jockeys do you admire?

Will Biddick won for me as a youngster on a horse called Unusual Suspect and I’ve had some good ones over the years. Josh Newman has had eight winners for me this season, Darren Andrews has probably ridden more winners for me than anyone else, then I’ve had top jockeys like Richard Woollacott and Darren Edwards. Of the current ones, Rian Corcoran has a bright future.

What's your favourite course?

In Cornwall, Trebudannon at the moment – it’s my local course. I miss places like Lemalla, Tehidy and Crimp. In Devon, John Heard does a great job with his course at Upcott Cross, and Bratton Down is the Cheltenham of the West Country! When Top Chief won there, it was like winning the Gold Cup.

What are your ambitions in pointing and racing?

I don’t have any, other than to keep the sport going. My biggest satisfaction is having an older horse to get young riders going – as well as Chris Barber, the likes of Rex Dingle and Bryan Carver won on Top Chief.

What do you think of the recent changes to the regulations?

I don’t like walkovers, and I think it’s good that they don’t count any more.