EARLY DECLARATION OF HANDICAPS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 5

EARLY DECLARATION OF HANDICAPS

SOME OWNERS PLACED AT DISADVANTAGE The early declaration of handicaps for the Ashburton Trotting Club’s meeting on December 26 and the first day of the Canterbury Park - Trotting Club's meeting on January 1, and the early closing of withdrawals for the Ashburton meeting, may cause considerable problems for some owners. Handicaps for the Ashburton meeting were declared last Monday, and withdrawals were due .last evening. The owner of any horse winning at the Rangiora Trotting Club’s meeting tomorrow will be unable to renominate for the Ashburton meeting, or for the first day of the Canterbury Park meeting. A number of horses , are affected. Some trotting enthusiasts claim that, because it is possible that there will be a number of horses balloted out of races at Ashburton, it is likely that a horse left in the field may win at Rangiora, and his connexions may decide not to start at Ashburton because of the extra handicap imposed. It is felt that this could deprive at least one other horse of a race. The action of the Canterbury Park club in declaring handicaps on Tuesday last seems unnecessary, especially as withdrawals are not due until December 29. If the Ashburton club closed withdrawals next Monday, there might be some difficulty in getting books printed and distributed, but this does not apply to the Canterbury Park Club, which could easily have declared handicaps next Monday.