Comments on Passing Events.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1907, 26 November 1886, Page 2

Comments on Passing Events.

(Bt Colonial.) Wellington, Nov 23, 1886. Handicapping. On account of several conversations 1 have had with different people, aod my attention having been mere directly called to the matter by the result of the New Zealand Cup. I have been led to make a few observations on the subject. The object sooght—namely, of making (every horse equal iu a race, has not been attained with any degree of snocess. My idea of the objects of borseraoiog and of others is to improve the breed of horses, but the present system would seem to encourage the breed of second and third rate horse* if we are to judge by the results. The New Zealand Cup is an example of this, though hundreds of other esses might be cited. Then it> no doubt, oil things being equal, Nelson la the fastest horse in New Zealand at the present, and if allowed fait play, would oertainly have proved a winner in the reeeut cup race; but, instead, be was literally weighted ont of it. This has been the esse so often that it mnst become apparent horse racing is not carried on with the object of improving the breed of horses. If horseracing is got up as a sort of gambling institution, why then it matters very little so long as ths sods of • proper system of gambling is attained. However,if thebreed of horses is the object, then, by present system, there appears to be a good deal of injustice done to those who happen to breed a good horse by the fact t«*at the * weight will be gradually increased till his chauoe of winning is at an end. lam one of those who object to handicapping on prin* ciple, but there are certain occasions when it may be necessary to a certain extent to create an interest in the contest But, ad« miffing that it is necessary, a limit might ba fixed of, say, a stone between the highest and lowest weight. The argument is, That if horses are not allowed an equal ohanoe, then would be fewer entries, less money to tlw Club, less money on the totahaator, and consequently less prize money. Booh an idea as this handisapping if advocated in the ordinary walks of life would simply be looked upon as absurd in the extreme. This argument will apply to footracing, do. In the latter east second rate men seem to win as often as first rate men, which is certainly most unfair to the latter. “ Equality and the rights of mao ” advocated in one of Marryott’s novels, has always been looked upon os a hogs joke in its application to the relations of Individ als in the routine business of life; but with regard to racing the principle has been adopted. lam inclined to behave that then would be no appreciable difference in ths number of tbe entries if the system of handicapping wu abolished, though then might be fewer meetings and ths public just as well satisfied. There is no man or hone so good when plaoed on equal terms hot what they do not find tbsir match. This was particularly so in ths csss of Hanlsn tbs rower, and Bcott the walker, who were both defeated at a time when such a thing seemed impossible.

Colonial Honoks The time appears to be approaching when the curtain will fall and this mighty big farce will be played out. However, the time is not so near bat what a handle to -one's name is worth L 5,000, or, in other words, that is the price which is supposed to have been given by Dr. now Sir Walter Butler, to the Colonial Institute, as a sort of bait by which to catch a title, end having angled for titles on • previous occasion, and succeeded, was also successful on tho present occasion. A southern paper remarks that it is a bard matter to withhold a title from a snob. This remark implies that people with little minds generally desire these valueless additions to their names—valueless, because they stats nothing in particular for which tbe title has been received, unlike s degree obtained by a scholar, *e. I believe that in Australia tbe natives there, who are supposed to be tbs lowest in the intellectual soale in the world, are perfectly satisfied if they are celled by some title, snob as king of Ballarat. Ibis would appear to be tbe case with many people who would be generally credited with a soul above snob things. When constitutional government was granted to Canada the subject was brought up by the Homs government as to whether it would not be advisable to create a colorlal aristocracy, but the matter never oame to anything. It weald eeem that snob an attempt was not necessary as tbs aristocracy (?) is cresting itself; but if we are to judge by tbe intellectual capacity of the Australian natives and tbeir desire for titles, and concluding that bn man nature is the nil the world over, the titled gentry will be tbe lowest in the state. Parents might save tbe tutors generation a good deal of trouble and expense if they had tbeir children registered Sir John Thoms, KGB. 1 am not aware that there would be any objection ; bat it there was, ths Government might do a good tbiug by allowing people to register tbeir children aod charging so maefa lot the privilege. All the titles need not be alike, but a variety might be introdneed to ■ait buyers and sold at different priest. However, as I said before, the faros is drawing to a close, the Justice of the Pessesbip which was so fondly sought after in times gone by, is not now eonsidorsd worth the while it coats to hold It, at will be ssta If any rae observing tho number of resignations which ere sent in and tbs forfeitures which occur through iudifbreooe, or to quoit tbe words of lbs poet —

Ths glittering toy so fondly sought Em k»t its tiwin through being caught.