Anniversary Day’s Sports.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2019, 19 January 1887, Page 2

Anniversary Day’s Sports.

To the Editor of the Standard.

Sib,—l would like to draw the attention of your readers to the way in which those gentlemen picked as handicappers for the Greytown Sports, did the htmdioapping : 1. Putting G. Payne and W. K, Scott, two Wellington runners (yon might call them the champions of Wellington) two yards in 100 in front of W. Catt, only a young runner, whereas these Wellington men could give Catt ten yards ; because Catt came 2nd in the events and Ist in the Maiden at Ponrua, they think he is a crack. 2. Why should J. Bamber, a man that never ran before, give C. B. Coleman two yards in 120, two yards in 220, and 13 in 440. Why could not both have the same start 1 Is it because Greytown likes to have all their own way ? 3, Why should G. Parker have one yard less than Wellington runners in the 120, when he is only a maiden. 1 believe the names of the handicappers are Webster, Bright, and Wenham, and, Sir,you must excuse me when I say I am sure it must be the first time they have done any of the l , work. 1 do not call it handicapping at all ; I call it a swindle. If the above men do not know how to place the running men, I will fry and tell them a little. A man sends a letter to me saying he would like to join in at certain sports ; he says he has only won one race before ; another man writes to me and says he came first in oho event, and first in another, and then first and second and so on. I would not put the man who has won everything three or four yards in front of one that has only won one race in his life. I would put that man about 10 yards behind, so the other should have a snow. I hope those gentlemen will not think it hard of me for trying to help the young runners, for I think they should have as big a say in it as the older ones. I know five young Casterton runners who will not run for the handicaps at all as they think it is a great shame, as they will stand no show at all alongside of Wellington runners. 1 think they ought to have given the local runners a better start, and I hope this will not have any effect upon the sports, but that the handicappers will know better how to judge for the next meeting.

I am, Ac., Phil Gaiilick, An interested party, Carterton, January 17.