HANDICAP DISPUTED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 190, 12 August 1931, Page 12

HANDICAP DISPUTED.

Explanation to Trotting Association. THE CASE OF WILLIE DERBY. The handicapping of Willie Derby in the Stewards’ Handicap at a recent meeting at Oamaru was discussed by the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association last evening, when a written explanation was received from the handicapper, Mr H. A. Jarden. The explanation met with some criticism and it was decided to send a copy to the Stipendiary Stewards Committee, which will report to the Licensing Committee.. Mr Jarden wrote as follows:—“Re-» garding the handicapping of Willie Derby in the Stewards’ Handicap at Oamaru, let me first state that it is part of my policy not to take into account third performances. In keeping with this method Willie Derby’s third at Ashburton on April 15 last was not considered his best effort, there being two seconds over two miles at the same meeting off 4.50. In such classes 12yds penalty for second usually is applied by me, thus placing Willie Derby on 4.49 which is equal to 2.24 i to the mile. Therefore under my rating Willie Derby was entitled to the limit of a 3.36 class, which was the limit of the race over which your association questions my handicap. In the same race Lord Matchlight and Mountain Ore also benefited by my policy, while in other races on the same day Nelson de Oro, John Appear, Tiny Bingen, Mat Voyage, Evening Sun, Almont Cling, and Onoto were not penalised for third performances they had registered. Might I also add that my method of not penalising horses for third performances has been in operation for over a year, yet Willie Derby is the first horse enjoying that privilege that has won. At the Oamaru Jockey Club’s fixture held on July 4, John Appear, Onoto, Tat Wrack, Parachute, Streak, Mountain Ore and Stella Bingen all enjoyed the benefit of my policy, yet not one of them won. Third Performances. “My reasons for not penalising horses for third performances are as follows; (1) It is better to be consistent by not penalising any horse that finishes third, than to penalise some and not others (2) As the system adopted by the authorities prevents handicappers from penalising horses that finish third in important races and earn substantial prize money I consider it is against the interests of the sport to penalise a horse that earns from five to ten pounds for similar place. (3) There is no dividend for third horse. * (4) That in many instances the fourth and even the fifth horse could have beaten the third horse.” Members’ Comment. Mr W. Hayward: Are we making the rules or is Mr Jarden? Mr J. R. M’Kenzie; Mr Jarden has made a rambling statement. The horse ran second in the 4.50 class and in the 3,34 class it finished third. The horse was placed off 3.34 and then Mr Jarden lets it out two seconds. Off the limit it went 3.26 in the 3.34 class, and at Oamaru in the 3.36 class, won off the front. Mr H. C. Kitchingham: A copy of the letter should be sent to the Stipendiary Stewards Committee. Mr H. C. Harley: Mr Jarden makes no reference to the fact that the horse ran second. Mr Hayward: What I don’t like about the explanation is that it sets out a policy irrespective of the rules Mr Jarden states that certain other horses received similar benefits, but the fact remains, two wrongs don’t make a right. The statement by Mr Jarden bolsters his system, which is not in conformity with the rules. On the motion of Mr Kitchingham it was decided to send a copy of the letter to the Stipendiary Stewards Committee, which will report to the Licensing Committee. GRAND NATIONAL WINNER. At One Period was Utiltiy Horse. Snowfall, the winner of the Grand National Steeplechase, was bred in Southland, being owned by Mr M. Mouat, jun., a well-known southern sporting farmer. At one period of his career, he was used as a utility horse on the farm. Snowfall is by Balboa, a New Zealand Derby and Auckland Cup winner, while his dam is a Martian mare. It is not a matter for surprise, therefore, that Snowfall can stay. During most of his racing career, Snowfall was trained by his owner, but after the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting in June he was handed over to E. J. Ellis, who finished off his Grand National preparation at Washdyke. Ellis is no stranger with jumpers, as he handled Pamplona and many other winners for Mr L. C. Hazlett a few years ago, and he is entitled to great credit for the condition in which he produced Snowfall for yesterday’s contest. The horse lost nothing in yesterday’s race in horsemanship. He was ridden by the trainer’s brother, A. E. Ellis, ho handled him with rare judgment all through- the contest. Elks is one of the most successful flat race riders in the Dominion, and he has been on two winners of the Grand National Hurdles (Penury Rose and Wharncliffe), but this was his first victory in the Grand National Steeplechase.