CURIOUS HANDICAPPING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 215, 11 September 1929, Page 15

CURIOUS HANDICAPPING.

The initial effort of the handicapper recently appointed at Pai'kes (X.S.W.), is not' likely to increase nominations from metropolitan owners for western district events, says Sydney "Sports- :. man." The Parkes Cup was a gift for Graceful Derby, off IS yards behind. The presence of leading' metropolitan horsemen and horses adds to the success of the big country meetings, -but unless owners arc assured of different treatment, Sydneysiders may be conspicuous by their absence. The Western Counties Association recently appointed a handicapper to do the work for all the clubs in the district, and his initial effort has caused no enthusiasm in town. To illustrate the ridiculous nature of the handicap for the Parkes Cup one need only compare two horses that are now much in the limelight, Graceful Derby, of Parkes, and Marble Ridge, of Sydney. Graceful Derby won the Epping Thousand last October, in heavy going, in 3.24 2-5. Marble Ridge's best time is 3.25 i. Had the two horses been placed on the same mark, Graceful Derby would even then have the better of it, but Graceful Derby was placed on 18 yards behind, and Marble Ridge on 84 yards behind. As was anticipated by the betting (Graceful Derby started at odds on) the race proved a gift to him. He had only to do 3.33-A to win from Prince Child, scratch. Prince Child, who finished second, has about 2.22} to the mile against him, and should have been in receipt of 102 yards from Graceful Derby, in place of IS yards.