SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7657, 7 June 1886, Page 6

SPORTING.

OTAHUHU RACES. The winter meeting of the Otahuhu Racing Club was to have been hold on Saturday, and arrangements had been made for a special train to convey visitors to the course, but the weather in the forenoon was so wet and stormy that the stewards held a meeting, and decided to postpone the races until next Saturday. It is rather unfortunate that the weather should have proved so unfavourable, as it will bring the Otahuhu meeting too close to the A.R.C. Winter meeting, which is to be held at Ellerslie next Monday. THE OTAHUHU HANDICAPPING. TO THE SPORTING editor. Sir,—l wan very pieced to read In this morning's issue of the Herald your remarks concerning the nomination, handicapping, etc., of a horie called Boomerang, for the Otahuhu Racing Club handicap. If those remarks are true, I think it imperative on the part of the Auckland Racing Club to cause a strict inquiry into this matter, in justice to the racing community. The Otahuhu Racing Olub it registered under the Anokland Racing Club's rules, and of course, when necessary, must satisfy the committee of the Auckland Racing Olub that their racing affairs are carried on in a propor manner, or must take the consequence of their license being either cancelled or not renewed when application is made for next racing season. Of course the A.R.C. cannot prevent them from holding their rice meetings, but they can disqualify all horses from running at the A. R.C. meetings (and meetings registered by them) that races at unregistered meetings, which would really mean preventing Otahuhu meetings taking place, as horseowners would not run the risk of having their horses disqualified for all the other race meetings in the province of Auckland. I regret very much that the Handicapping Committee should have adopted such tactics as you have mentioned, and it is certainly to be regretted that (as you remark), " this promising club should be so smudged with this questionable piece of work." I may here remark that in the sub-loader of the New Zealand Referee of last issue the following paragraph appears :—" We have before now expressed our disbelief in the system of handicapping committees, etc.;" and I think now the Otahuhu Racing Olub should also come to that conclusion, and appoint Mr. W. W. Robinson, or some other well-qualified person to frame their handicaps for the future. Now, let us see what the definition of the word " handicap" is. Upon looking over the rules I find as follows " Handicap is a race in which the weights the horses are to carry are to be adjusted after the time limited for entering or naming, according to the handicapper's judgment of the merits of the horses, for the purpose of equalising their chances of winning." Well, surely the weight given to Boomerang cannot be in accordance with that definition. I observe also that the rules of the A.R.C. state that "the top weight in a handicap shall not be less than Sit 121b but do not make any mention about the top weight not accepting that the weights shall be raised accordingl*. Some remark that had the rule been worded someway in that direction that possibly Boomerang would not havo beAn nominated for the Otahuhu Handicap, but I think he probably would have, and to carry out the farce would also have accepted and started. But I contend it is worded properly, and for this reason, viz. : A handicapper devotes a great deal of time in endeavouring to equalise the chances of the horses, and accordingly apportions them their respective weights; but if the top weight does not accept and the weights have to be raised four or five pounds, or more, then his handicap would be all at sea, beoause, where, say, In the case of light weights and others, It would probably be to their advantage, while the extra weight clapped on to some would simply anchor them. For instance, in the Otahuhu Handioapthe top weight allotted to Boomerang, as you say, was evidently intended so as to keep it off Clogs, they considering the extra weight would be to# much, I had intended to refer to other matters, but as I have, I am sure, overrun the limit of space, 1 shall draw this letter to a close. I may, however, do so at some future time, if you can find room for their insertion, and if any remarks that I make will in the least way assist in the proper carrying on of the " sport of kings" (which I am very fond of), then any littb trouble I may take in the matter will not be " love's labour lost."—l am, &c., June 5, 1886. . Auckland.