The Amateur Sports.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 621, 22 November 1890, Page 11

The Amateur Sports.

The handicaps for the Amateur Athletic Club's Spring Meeting, to be he'd in the Domain on Saturday next, were published -at the end of last week, and as usual they have evoked some criticism. They appear to have given general satisfaction, although there are one or two who consider themeelves rather hardly treated, and in this they have only themselves to thank. There are some fellows who wm go gas- ■ Sing about the splendid trials ihey do, apparently quite overlooking the fact that the handicappers are bound to hear ot their exploits, and the result is seen in the starts allotted. The handicapping in the bicycling events seems to be most absurd, or perhaps I should exonerate the handi- • capper, and say competitors for these kind of races should be re-classified at once. The public generally look upon bicycle events as a pleasant break to the day's racing, but they cannot help feeling disgusted when they see the limit man starting from the same mark as the scratch man. I have been advocating alteration for some time back, but for some unexplained reason, the management persist in including verit.able novices in races in which our crack riders are competing. They should be in -a distinct race for themselves, when some interest might be taken in the events. As it is, it takes a smart man to know who ; is the scratch man and who have received .starts. With this exception the arrangements for holding a successful meeting seem to be almost perfect, and if we are favoured with anything like fine weather there should be a monster assemblage. In pursuance of my usual custom. I will now proceed to give my views of the •different races and the men engaged. 150 Yards Maiden.— T unhesitatingly plunge on the following, in the order : named : — Oollins 1 0. Hesketh 2 A. Smith 3 120 Yabds Handicap.— Next in order comes this handicap event, in which a very ■big field will come to the post. This should prove a most interesting race, and 'is a very difficult one to select the likely winners. Langsford, who was thought to have a big say in this, has fallen behind in ■public favour since he cut his foot. Tommy Whiteside, with 6j*ds, will take a lot of beating, and Lewis, with lOyds, is a ■dangerous man ; while Brigham and ' Barlow ' Madigun are both going splendidly. I am inclined to favour their chances, as .follows : — Lewia ••■ 1 Hrigham 2 Madigan 3 -with young Harvey for a surprise / Ladies' Bracelet. — For the honour of Tvinning the Bracelet there are always a large number of competitors, and in this the fair sex take mere than ordinary interest, probably owing to the fact that their champions are doiug battle on their bohalf. I confess it helps a fellow along wonderlully, when he knows if he wins there is ( the "pleasure in store for him of clasping the bracelet on his fair enslaver's wrist •Out of tuch a large field it is no easy task picking the winner, and especially when the men seem to have trained so thoroughly. ■Goldwater is going on very well and should ■have a cut in for this, while Rhodes is also spoken highly of. My choice is : — D. Harvey (14yds) 1 Brigham (13yds) 2 Laird (scratch) 3 ■with Chatfield for a boil-over. Quarter-mile Handicap. — For this •event there are twenty-five starters (Goldwater dropping out), and it should prove to be one of the best fought out events on the programme. I shall place them as follows : — Laird (scratch) ... ... ... 1 Martin (17yds) 2 Kilfoyle (17yds) 3 with. A. Smith for a surprise. Quarter-mile Hubdlbs. — There are some really good men engaged in this, but I fancy there will not be any great difficulty in picking the placed men. I shall go fortOwen (scratch) 1 Croker (30yde) 2 Batger 3

Half-mile Handicap. — This event has also brought out a large field, and the various ' stables ' feel confident of annexing this. Goldwater, who is a strong 1 runner, will, I believe, save himself for this race, and should make Ihinga merry. I fancy the scratch man, Winks, will not be able to get through. My selection will be : — Taylor (35yds) 1 Lewis ... ... ... ... 2 Croker or Goldwater ... ... 3 One: Mile Handicap. — Seventeen runners have accepted for the long 1 distance, but I think ' Kalo ' Winks will get through his men, and the event result as follows : — Winks (scratch) ... 1 Clarke (25yds) 2 Simpson (110 yds) 3 with youne Winks (70yds) for a cock-boat. Lono Jump.— This has hitherto been a very tame affair, but on the present occasion I fancy it is a little more open. I like them best in this order : — TJpfill 1 Cruickshank 2 Steeplechase. — Judging by the interest taken in the last steeple, I should think this will turn cut to be a capital race, and I shall look to them to finish in the following order : — Clarke (oOsec) 1 Bull (40-ec) 2 Winks (owes GOsec) ... ... 3 One Mile Walk.— Creamer is said to be going very well for this event, and is credited with a pood trial. His past performances also warrant me in looking to him to do the trick. Creamer (15yds) ... 1 Maefarlane (55yds) 2 O'Dowd (90yds) 3 with Peace for a surprise.