REEFTON HANDICAPING.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1328, 26 November 1883, Page 2

REEFTON HANDICAPING.

.• ■ , •- — : — ♦— (To the Editor, In akqabva Times.) Sik, — I beg space in your valuable paper 10 make a few, remarks ou the handicaps declared on the loth, as lam under ihe. impression that it is a shame to let such a- piece Of blundering pass unnoticed. The handicap for the big money is, I believe, the very worst ever made on the West Coast, and I can only say that the R.J.C. had better in future leave the work to the local haudicapers, who do take some trouble over their business, than to send to Christchurch to have such a nieas made of it. I will just point out a few of the many blunders, or whatever you like to call them, in this race, and any one, other than a lunatic, will say that r.lie handicaper was either at a champagne supper the night before he made up the weights, or .else he was a shingle short, or perhaps he wanted to only have a very few horses come to the post. Now, to take, for a start, Satillite and Whalebone : -Satillite 6st lOlbs. Whalebone 6st 91bs. Who would riot back Whalebone with lib start? Then comes Greyhound, 6st 71bs, Lady Harris, Bst 71bs. Another good tHing is the >'drfolk Lass, a mare that tievor ran a race. She gets the fearful big start from Greyhound of 41bs, and she also has a good thing in getting 7tt>3 from Satillite : Now, if you look to last Christmas records you will find that in the R..T.0. Handicap Satillite gave the Field 191bs, and made a good race of it. This time the Field gives Siitillite 51bs. Poor Satillite, you must be very sick this time. Then we come to another little patch : Albion gives the Field Ist 01b this time. When they ran last Albion gave the Field ost, and beat her in a canter ; also beating Forester, giving him 3st 71b. This time he gives Forester 2st 101 b. And again, how can any sensible man put the Norfolk Lass, six years old, a mare full grown, on the same footing as a three year old colt like Philosopher, and both of these horses give old Forester 31b. They may, be able to give him 3st, but they have not proved it yet, and wherefore the penalty. Of course the weight on Satillite is quite enough to stop at lonst seven of the horses from accepting, and very likely more. Taking the case of Saturn, Satillite's companion, a four ytajT old, untried, we find that he gives Sarillite 81b, and the Field 31b, and Greyhound 111 b. Now, as to Lady Harris and Jack, these both carry Bst 7. Who but a mad man would compare these two horses as equals ? Then comes Albion, with Bst 101 b. The heavy

weight 31b more than Lady Harris, while he could comfortably carry 3st more, and beat her. I will place a few of the horses to show how nice they look together. Btlb Albion, aged - - - 810 Jack, 5 years - - - 8 7 I ady Harris - - - 8 7 The Field - - - 7 1 Saturn - - - - 7 4 Satellite - - - - 6 10 Whalebone - - - 6 9 I will now say a few words with regard to the County race. It has certainly j more of the appearance of fair play, but still there is a lot wrong in it. To start with Albion. It looks a heavy weight lOst 71b. Bonny Doon is not in it at flst. Barney has his share of weight at Bst 71b, but how could anyone place a colt like Parnell, who has ran only four races in second-class company, and never secured a place with from 6st to 7st slb, within 2lb of Barney, who has performed in very good company, and has the advantage of being full grown, As to the Hurdle Race I must say that Liability is a good horse if he conies to the post to carry list 71b against Hyena and Albion. As to Swordsman, he ought to be in it, aa Frieth seldom comes without a good thing. As to Parnel, he is. not destined to show his muscle this year, and the old warrior Forester is not in it either. I must apologise for occupying so much of your valuable space, and sign myßelf Old Spoet. Reefton, Nov. 16th, 1883.