CONSISTENT GALLOPERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27386, 11 May 1950, Page 5

CONSISTENT GALLOPERS

Sometimes Worst Sufferers In Adjustments PROBLEM FOR HANDICAPPERS By the Sporting Editor One of the most important positions in the racing world is that of handicapper. A writer in an English exchange raises the question of the most advantageous position from which that official should view a race, and he answers it by giving his opinion that an elevated position near the distance post would be the best. As a general rule, he says, the horses who go close to winning without actually doing so, have the worst of the deal. If a horse is placed once or twice, or finishes close up in an important race without even securing a place, he is very seldom “ dropped,” and thus, time after time, always being ridden out, he finishes close up but does not win. Moreover, such horses often finish in sufferance in front of horses who have not been ridden out, and if those of the latter class have escaped the vigilance of the handicapper through his not having noticed that they were eased, they sometimes go down a few points. The writer quoted contends that stewards should also view a race from a similar position. The bulk of the objections which are lodged are made because of alleged bumping, boring, crossing, or the like, and as a rule this sort of thing occurs when horses are making their final efforts. In conclusion, the writer says that stewards would see more of what happens in a race if they were posted on an elevated position near the distance post than they would from the stand.