One handicapper for all S.I. racing clubs

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 30

One handicapper for all S.I. racing clubs

By

ALEX McMILLAN

Mr Rex Johnston, of Woodend, after completing negotiations with Southland racing clubs this week, is now the official handicapper for all South Island clubs. His position will involve declaring weights for a total of 96 meetings per season in the South Island. Mr Johnston, formerly of Westport, has, in the last 23 years, been employed by West Coast, Southland and most Canterbury and Otago clubs. For more than 12 months he has officiated for the Nelson Jockey Club and the Marlborough Racing Club, replacing the North Island-based Mr Neil Bluett, and this

season the Ashburton County Racing Club and all South Canterbury and North Otago clubs after the retirement of Mr Alex Stanley. The appointment of Mr Johnston, who, until this season, has operated his own business, now gives New Zealand two current full-time handicappers. The other is the Auck-land-based Mr Dean Nowell. The benefit of having one handicapper framing all weights for South Island meetings should result in a more uniform assessment of runners, something which should, ultimately, satisfy the majority of owners and trainers.