TROTTING.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18229, 17 January 1931, Page 9

TROTTING.

(By “ Padlock.”) t < Fixtures Ahead. January 29—Northland. January 29, 31—Forbury Park. February 7—Metropolitan. February 21—Kaikoura. February 21, 25—Auckland. March 28—Thames. , HANDICAPPING OF HORSES POINTS IN PRESENT SYSTEM. i STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES. The system of handloapplng now operating In the trotting eport was brought Into foroe at the commencement of last season, and although It was viewed with a lot of suspicion In some quarters, when first It was mooted, It has proved Its worth In nearly every direction. As was to be expected, difficulties were soon encountered, necessitating the clearing up of doubtful points, but most of them have been got over quite satisfactorily, says a writer In the Christchurch Star. When" the Trotting Conference met In. July the subject was due for review, as the system was. in operation for a year only. There appeared to be a prospect of the whole subject coming under review again, with a lengthy discussion, the result of which was not easy to forecast. Fortunately, however, an easy way out was discovered, In the decision to give the present system a trial for another year before taking any action to alter or amend the conditions. With full consideration for the whole situation, this was a wise move. The present season Is now well advanced and the time seems opportune to discuss the question, with a view to further improvements in the system as originally formulated. One thing that appears to be quite certain is that there will be no return to the old handioapping methods. This being the case, those in authority should set to work toperfect the present system. Its general principle is a limitation of penalties for horses who are placed In races, graded according to the classes in which they have registered their performances.-, One result o'f the freedom given to the Tiandicappers is that some striking inconsistencies, have been produced. As matters stand at present, this is unavoidable, due to the varying views of different -officials concerning the value of performances, one handicapper imposing the full penalty allowed, while another is con-tent-with something less severe. This is a feature of the system which has given rise to much discussion. Many solutions of the problem have been offered. . Some keen followers of the sport go. the length .of ,/suggesting that, the. discretion at present allowed ' tiandicappers should be abolished and that i hard and fast penalties, graded as at present, according to class should become the rule. This proposal has much to recommend It, as It would place all horses on an equality of treatment. Entered on Time. Another point that has been much discussed is the position o'f horses entering for races on the actual time they have recorded, when they are entitled to be handicapped under the system to a place in a slower class. A definite rule to cover such cases would be welcomed. Some critics' urge that if an owner chooses to enter a horse in a race for which he has qualified on time, he should not later expect to be handicapped on the slower mark which was his due under the system. The argument of these critics Is that an owner is not en-titled(-to have his chance both ways. He has his option, and having chosen he should be compelled to abide by the result. It must be admitted that this view is reasonable and logical, and its official recognition would get rid of some difficulties. A general review is needed in another direction. While a definite scale is provided for the distance at which a horse registers his performance, j something is required to cover the 1 position as it applies to other distances, j A pacer winning a mile race, class 2.24 'or slower, may be penalised up to ! 48yds for future races of a mile, but there is -no uniformity in the method of treating him in races over other distances. The difficulty caused in . this way is continually in evidence and j some strange anomalies have been i created by the differing views of hanj dicappers. It is rarely that a meet- | ing takes place without difficulties of ' i some kind cropping up—difficulties | which, in the main, could have been {avoided. i | Those who framed the present h-an-I dicapping conditions are deserving the '! thanks of all followers of the sport. ' i They produced a scheme which, on ’ | the whole, has worked well. That is | an assertion that admits of no doubt. IjThe racing has improved wonderfully j under the new order. But the time i is now opportune for another step and i the executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference should set up a committee to formulate a scheme which'would get over the difficulties which have 'been disclosed since the , system has been in force. PREFERS A DIRT TRACK. Vendome, who looks in fine order, has been pacing somewhat erratically lin her recent races. At Ashburton, . on Boxing Day, she was well backed In the chief two-mile event, but at no stage did she look like troubling the leaders; in fact, before half the dis- ; tance had been covered Kennerlev 'was at her to> improve his position without avail. On the first day of the Canterbury Park meeting Vendome started in the chief event and although she finished in fifth place she was I some distance back. On the second i day she seemed quite unable to go | with the field in the Park Handicap for the first mile and a half, but over the last half-mile she was travelling in fine style and finished up in third place, behind Travis Axworthy and Great Logan. She was going faster than the pair who finished in front of her at the end, and she is not a i proved two-miler, being best over sprint courses. Starting again later ; in the day, Vendome was fifth in the 1 Selwyn Handicap, of a mile and a quarter. but she again failed to show her j customary brilliancy in the early | stages. There is little doubt that the j Australian-bred mare prefers a hard dirt track, says a Christchurch writer.

NORTHLAND CLUB.

ANNUAL TROTTING MEETING. HANDICAPS DECLARED. The following handicaps for the Northland Trotting Club’s annual meeting, to be held at Kensington Park, Whangarei, on January 29, have been declared by Mr C. E. Goosman: — DARGAVILLE HANDICAP. Of £100; limit, 3.43; li miles. Great Vanity, Man o’ Belle, Worthy Chief, Pirate Picture, Black Ballin, Prince Etawah, Great Fame, Lady Linda, Jasper, Minties, Impromptu, Man at Arms, Triumphant, Lislea, Moko Swift, limit; Marvin Wallace, 24 yds bhd; Speed King, 24; Oliver Thorpe, 36; Moko Chief, Carnui, 60; Lady Yvonne, 72. WHANGAREI HANDICAP. Of £100; limit, 3.50.; li miles. Win Huon, Carl Mack, Rosalie’s Triumph, Moko Bells, Bessie Parrish, Perfeot Peter, limit; Lochade, 12yds bhd; Special Bell, 24; Guy McElwyn, 36; Lady Ena, 72; Lord Haldane, 120; Wimmera King, 180. NORTHLAND HANDICAP. Of £225; limit, 4.42; 2 miles. Some Dillon, Little Guy, Dan Direct, limit; Nella Dillon, Glandore, 'Great Parrish, Queen Elizabeth, 24yds bhd; Master Hula, Dealer, 36; Benefice, 48; Explosion, 60; Mignonne, 72; Gold Treasure, Enawah, 96. KAWAKAWA HANDICAP. Of £125; limit, 3.4; li miles. Great Vanity, Army Boy, Worthy Chief, Pirate Picture, Black Ballin, Man o’ Belle, Prince Etawah, Sirdar, Great Fame, Lady Linda, Minties, Te Hono, Judy Thorpe, Man at Arms, Moko Swift, Betty Guy, Lislea, limit; Marvin Wallace, 24 yds bhd; Olivei Thorpe, 36; Prince Pedro, ' Chrystai,48; Typist, Kewpie’s Triumph, Carnui, 60; Wrigley, Gaza, Whakahihi, 72. WAI'PU HANDICAP. Of £125; limit, 4.50; 2 miles. Speed King, Prince Pedro, Lady Yvonne, Lady Linda, Chrystai, Jasper, June Nordica, Moko Chief, Kewpie s Triumph, limit; Pavlova, Marionette, Dad’s Hope, 36; Gumdigger, 48; Some Dillon, First Flight, 60; Dan Direct, 72. PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP. Of £150; limit, 4.58; 2 miles. Win Huon, Guy McElwyn, Lady Ena, Parrish Belle, Lochade, Moko Bells, limit; Lord Haldane, 48yds bhd; Wild Nut, 72; Billy Carbine, 84; Wimmera King, 120; Etta Cole, 19„. HIKURANGI HANDICAP. ■Of £150; limit, 254; li miles. Silver Link, Dad’s Hope, Bell Dial, Pavlova, Gaza, Some Dillon, limit; Glandore, Little Guy, Vanity Boy, 12yds hdb; Lord Nepean, Dealer, Dan -Direct, 24; Great Parrish, Mignonne, Master Huia, 48. KAIKOHE HANDICAP. Of £100; saddle; limit, 2.24; 1 mile. Great Vanity, Army Boy, Jasper, Judy Thorpe, Chrystai, limit; Typist, Carnui, 12yds bhd; Black Pearl, 24; Marionette, Silver Link, 36; Dads Hope, 48; Soandal, 72.