THE HANDICAPPING QUESTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2677, 5 July 1905, Page 50

THE HANDICAPPING QUESTION.

Latterly the-ra has beea considerable agitation here for an inor-esne in the number of our handicapnerc, but according to a correspondent in the Australasian, there are

sorno who do not agree with plurality of weight adjusters, as uhe following will show : —

The entries for ths spring handicaps in both Slates show a considerable falhng-off in point of numbers, and (says the correspondent alluded to above, and who signs himself "An Owner") the reason ascribed is "that owing to the large number of our horses sold for export, there is nothing left to enter," but that such is not the case could be proved if a return was prepared from the city and suburban courses of both States of the horses in work at the present time. The number is equal to, if not greater than, what has been the case for a considerable number of years. So that the above reason cannot be accepted ; but if you will allow one interested to venture an opinion, theri I have no hesitation in saying tha tit is not the «-a,roity of horses but the dearth of in-deppndent and competent handicappers that has caused the falling-off, and it is to the best interests of racing that the clubs interested in the production of the coming spring handicaps should stir themselves in the matter, and take steps to dispel the idea thia<t a conference or correspondence between the handicappcrs takes place previous to the issue- of the weights, the idea, no doubt, arising from the fact that in the past several horses who were untried or non-peviovmers were allotted the same weights in the different handicaps. It therefore behoves those in authority to instruct their handieapp-ers t<> act independently, and to the best of their mental ability, and also impress on them thai the exchanging of ideas between handii cappers relative to the merits of any bcrse which they may be called upon to baadican, if such has been the practice, ie not conducive to the interests of racing or the clubs controlling it. Should, however, a similarity in the handicaps to be issued ba desired, to prevent unpleasant discussion on the merits of the work, then I would suggest that one handioapper be appointed, and by dispensing with the others a great saving will ba effected.