HANDICAPPING SYSTEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 164, 13 July 1929, Page 16

HANDICAPPING SYSTEM.

FRAMING FUTURE PROGRAMMES.

The introduction of the system which limits the penalties a liandicapper may impose upon placed horses will mean that in framing programmes for the new season care will have to be taken in setting out exactly the conditions attached to certain races. The only club to have its programmes for the season already drawn up is the Metropolitan Trotting Club, and it would appear that this will have to be reviewed, otherwise some interesting problems may crop up. In the main the programmes are similar to those of the season just finished, but there are certain conditions attached to certain raoes which it may be advisable to revise.

As Mr. H. F. Nicoll, the president, very correctly pointed out some time back in support of the new system, there have been numerous instances this season of horses knocking up to 20 seconds off their handicaps. This point was emphasised as being unfair to owners. Maybe it was hard, but it is still going to be hard, despite the new system, unless those responsible for the framing of programmes grasp the position. For instance, taking the programmes for the Metropolitan Trotting Club's meetings for the approaching season, it will be seen that certain races have a limit at both ends, and that on different days there are races of a similar class. For instance, at the. Cup meeting on the first day there is the Riccarton Handicap, limit 4.40, for horses that have not gone or been handicapped to do 4.35. This is quite a good raos, but the Metropolitan Handicap on the second day and the Australasian Handicap on the third day have the same conditions. During the present season we have had a number of horses, Kingscrafi, The Abbey, and others starting in the 4.40 class and going round about 4.30, perhaps better. The Abbey went 4.29 from a 4.39 mark. The handicapper could then put the horse wherever he felt justified, but in future he cannot do so and no matter what a horse may go from a 4.39 mark the most he can be penalised is 36yds, or o 4.36. The position now is that a horse going 4.35 or better on the first day of the Cup meeting, even though he be beaten into second or third place, cannot start in a similar class race on the second or third day. So that we have a horse that cannot ba handicapped at tighter than 4.36 not eligible to start in the very race he is really eniled to. It certainly is up to clubs to carefully consider the new handicapping system and its effect before framing conditions governing races. The Metropolitan Trotting Club might be wise in reviewing its programme? abeady.pttbßshedi