THE STANDARD WEIGHTS FOR AGE.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4287, 26 April 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE STANDARD WEIGHTS FOR AGE.

The following letter from Mr Scarr, the A. J.C. handicapper, appears in a recent number of the "Australasian " :— Sir, —In your paper of the Bth Maroh you alluded prominently to the necessity for a further revision of the standard weights for age for all the colonies, and were good enough to refer to mc as.one who, with Captain Standißh, might frame a scale which wonld be satisfactory to all parties. I fancy Captain Standish has important work of another character on his hands jnst now, and might not be disposed to spare time for such a matter aa this. At all events I do not think we could do much without a personal oonference, for which we Bhall probably not have opportunity for a considerable time to come.

Having given close attention to the subject since the V.R.C. and A.J.C.; revised their respective scales of weights, I am'clearly of opinion, with yon, that they did not then go far enongh in bringing the young and old horses together ; and I have : recently completed a revision of both scales which I should be glad to submit to any conference of gentlemen who may be appointed to consider the question. 1 enclose you a copy of each. I cannot ask you to print both, hut I hope you may be able to find room for rrne— say my " proposed amendment of the V.R.C. scale of weights for age," the principle of which will be more likely to find acceptance in" your colony. For myself, I prefer the A.J.O. method, but am quite willing to agree to either for the sake' of uniforriiity. The practical result is the same in both, and the main difference, is that during the early ami middle portions of the year the weights under the A. JiC. arrangement run a little lighter as a consequence of ,the.fouryear-old weights commencing lower, arid running np to 9st. The proportion of weights is almost identical in both scales. ~ j " "You will observe that I have abVndbried the last division, in the existing scales, "three miles and upwards," and have made the weighte for two miles and a half to extend up to the three miles. Three miles* is the extreme dfatance ever run in these days* j and there seems to be no necessity toprovidie ' for anything beyondthat. And it will be ; obvious that if a scale for three miles is to be j added after that for two Miles unci a half, involving a reduction of the three year old I and an increase of the weights on i five, and six year olds, very little improvement on the present imposts be effected for'the longer distance. Beside?, it would seem to be a sound opinion that, when the distance to be run exceeds two iriiles and a half, the heavy weights carried by four, five, and-six yeaf bids - tell quite as much, upon them as the increase of distance does upsn the three year olds, whose burden ia not of crushing character., ■','■■■■. •■■'..' Considering that our climate is so favorable—much more favorable than that ef England—to the early ripening of two and three year olds, of whose precociousnesa we have had so many examples, and the faot that racehorses are gerierally going off from the results of hard work at or. after, four years old: Xthink the'alterations I now propose are by no means too gseat. As somebody must take the initiative in any reform; I have'ventured to do so now, having reason to believe that I have gives the subject as much attention as any one in the colonies. If it should be the opinion of the majority of facing men that I have gone too far, or not far enough, I wonld undertake to construct a scale of weights to meet their views, if definitely, expressed, and with this object I invite discussion.' But 'if the general opinion should be that I have hit a happy medium, doing substantial justice ,to all ages, nothing would give mc greater pleasure than to find my weighte adapted. I will only add that with a scale of weights like those X now propose sound old horses would have a fair prospect afforded > them of winning some of the principal weight-for-age races, and would consequently remain longer on the turf, to the manifest advantage of- sport. The present weights act as an inducement to Ovtneiß to use up good horses at two and three years old, not caring much what may bo their state afterwards. Haridicaps only,<arß loft to them, being well found outi their chances in them are scarcely worth considering Racing, therefoite, suffers as well as-the horses, whose" value is considerably deteriorated by their being "played out" so early. - " ; ) IE racing men would send ywu, their opinions, approving or 'disapproving rriy proposals, and giving their reasons, if they think it worth .while, *we should soon arrive at a settlement of this important matter which would be satisfactory to all concerned.