LACK OF CONSISTENCY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 983, 28 May 1930, Page 14

LACK OF CONSISTENCY

“HANDICAPPING NOT UNDERSTOOD” NATIVE PRINCE CASE • The handicapping system is ju« now the most discussed and de bated topic in light harness circles Not because there is anything verJ much at fault with the system as far as it goes, but mainly on account of the inconsistent fixinc 0 f penalties by certain adjusters. A closer study of some cases c.iuses ono to stop and think seriaush whether this repeated inconsistency fe a question of wrongful interpretation of the scheme, which, put plainly amounts to incompetency, or whether some of our present-day handicappers are vain enough to Dack their opinion of the merits and demerits of e- rtair horses against the judgment laid in the limitation of penalties. Thiv opens up a big phase of the sublet and at a later date “Abaydos” will review the situation as presented from the season’s working, with the off. Each handieapper will be 'dealt with on his merits and his interpretation (or misinterpretation) of the system and the result of such adjustments will be clearly defined. Native Prince Case At this stage, however, the writer would like to point out the case of the Auckland pacer. Native Prince, as compared with Wrackler and Jean McElwyn. After battling for some considerable time to make good as a two-niiler. Jack Shaw’s sturdy pacer succeeded in winning twice recently over this distance. For each win he was fined 24yds—quite within the law* But it must not be forgotten—in fact, it is likely to bo remembered in trotting circles for a long time—that when Wrackler won the gold cup at Wellington his penalty next out was only 12yds. To a certain extent Mr. Paul is to be congratulated on his idea of not being too harsh on a good horse, providing, of course, the same treatment is meted out to all. He adopted the same principle when Jean McElwyn won at a later fixture at Hutt Park. The Dunedin handieapper. Mr. Fogg, followed in a similar strain with these pacers, but at the recent Forburv Park meeting spoilt his good intentions by penalising other winners In this class 24yds. In his Canterbury Park adjustment Mr. Thomas ha* made no bones about putting the full penalty on Native Prince for his twomile victory, but he makes the fatal error of handing out a palliative by letting the Aucklander up in a 10-fur-long heat from 2.42 to 2.43, and this after winning twice over two miles. Plain Sailing To put the thing in a nutshell, there shotld be no reason for any inaccuracies with the application of the present system and there should certainly be no excuse for handicappers discriminating between one and another—whether it be hrrse or owner—when max ng their adjustments. The work

should be simply plain sailing. The position is becoming so acute that owners, trainers and the general public are asking wTiere the thing is going to end. Just why there cannot be a uniformity among handicappers is difficult to understand, but a repetition of the anomalies which have occurred, particularly in the South Island, since the system came into vogue will tend to bring the business somewhere near finality. The New Zealand authoritie* are now considering the question from all angles and there may, or may not. be an alteration of the limitation cf penalties; but one thing is certain, the conference will make a recommendation to clubs in future to appoint only handicappers who are competent to do the work in keeping with the system. Wise Action To revert to the ce.se under review, that of Native Prince, the pacer's owner, Mrs. S wee tap pie, has shown sound judgment and wisdom in allowing the horse to drop out of his twomile engagements at Canterbury Park. Many owners, after their candidates have been unsatisfactorily handicapped continue the engagement and this gives the adjuster an erroneous idea that a start means satisfaction with the markallotted. While the owner of Xativ Prince cannot complain at the pacers placement, after his recent victories, she has every reason to protest, against other owners being treated in a lenient manner; and the soundest way to voice such objection is by not accepting the handicapper’s verdict. However, the Epsom-trained horse has been left in the 10-furlong event 03 Saturday and his owner could not ver well refuse the invitation to start when placed on such a handy mark over ii distance that suits him admirably.

SAPLING STAKES

NINETEEN REMAIN IN Press Association ASHBURTON, Tuesday. The following are the final forfeits for the Sapling Stakes: — _ Checkers, by Worthy Bond—Fan-. Pointer; Flying Cloud, by Wrack—child; Arethusa, by Wrack —Trix Points-. Wheat King. by Sonoma Harvester-* Croesus mare; Bingen Junior, by Bingen—Brent Locanda mare; Bingen, by Nelson Bingen—Argvle Gold Chips, by Key De Ord— Prospect. Crimson Rey, bv Rev De Pro— Rose; Royal Chenault, by Peter Cfoenajg —Princess Ann. Oro’s Pride, by R«5 1 Oro—Harold Dillon mare; Red Shaoo . by Travis Ax worthy—Our Aggie; Go»J" worthy, by Guy Parrish—Annie Travis Maxwell, by Travis Axwortn) Nancy Maxwell; Le Fashion, by *”7 Fashion—Legato; Orf. by Sonoma Mf* vester—Gwenchild: b f. by Rey De Frenzy Pointer; ch f. by Rey De ore Rothschild mare; b f, by Rey De <- • Sincerity: ch g. by Peterwah — T>illon mare.