“FOLLOWING” FAVOURITE RIDERS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 957, 9 July 1908, Page 8

“FOLLOWING” FAVOURITE RIDERS.

Many “ systems” of betting have been tried in the hope of breaking the Ring from time to time, and amongst them can be included the following through thick and thin, of leading riders of the day. Experience, however, teaches that there is no royal road to fortune on the Turf this way. If a backer happens to catch a horseman “ doing a trot,” as the saying is, a fair profit can be shown, perhaps, by sticking strictly to his mounts; but even the most successful jockeys get their bad meetings, and when the luck changes “ following” them must prove expensive. We once read of a front-rank English jockey, with a big army of supporters, riding no less than 40 losers in succession, and when at last he broke the spell it was on a 10 to 1 chance ! It would be interesting to know what his followers —if he had any left —thought when, after such a disastrous series of “ outs,” they were faced with a long odds chance, through which they might recover their losses. We rather imagine that it would have taken a tremendous investment of money to get them even at the price. But when all is said and done, there may be something in sticking to any one of the crack horsemen of the moment. It may be as good a way as any other of losing your money ! Seriously, though, there is something to be said in favour of the “ system” referred to, though, mind you, we do not suggest that this, or any other “ system,” for that matter, should be experimented in to any extent. Take a Burn or a Barden, for instance (says the “S. and D. News.”) A man who goes to the races with no special knowledge of the game, but with some capital to “ play up,” might get the worth of his money by supporting the mounts of such men, for being first-class, reliable riders, always in the pink of condition, they are sought after by owners with welltried horses, and thus they rarely ride a “ duffer.” As a matter of fact, the Burns and the Bardens of the day can almost choose their own mounts, and though their judgment may sometimes be at fault, they are in a position to select the best material available at the time. We are afraid, though, that even the Burns and the Bardens mean bankruptcy if they are persefvered with ..far enough, and we must repeat that “ following the riders” is scarcely, at best, a profitable enterprise.

dation of horses engaged at the meeting. Amongst others that have secured quarters are:—-T. Williams and W. Mobberly of Auckland, V. Colello, R. Gooseman and S. Waddell of Hawke’s Bay, F. Holmes, T. Cotton and J. Taggart of Riccarton. The local trainers, J. Prosser and C. Pritchard, have booked boxes for ten and six horses respectively. McGrath, Garrett and K. McKenzie, will put in an appearance with teams from Wairarapa, whilst Short, Goodwin, Goddard and Nicholls will be here to represent Taranaki. The training tracks and schooling fences are in readiness for visiting trainers and next week should find training operations in full swing at Trentham.

The appearance of the C.J.C. Winter Handicap a week in advance of their due date, has supplied a fruitful topic of conversation in sporting circles. The Canterbury weight adjuster has been charged in the past with dealing somewhat harshly with the top weights. On this occasion he has gone to the other extreme, and each of his handicaps is started on a lower scale than those of the Wellington handicapper. On the last occasion Mr Henrys weighted Kaitere, he allotted him 13st 41b and he finished third to Slow Tom and Nadador. The latter, it will be remembered, was awarded the race owing to an alleged cross on the part of Taggart’s horse. Nadador has been dropped 141 b, whilst Kaitere, who finished behind her, comes down 101 b. Eurus, although he has not raced in the interval, has fallen in Mr Henrys’ estimation, since he issued his Hawke’s Bay steeplechase handicap. Eurus then conceded Le Beau 51b and received but 21b from Kaipetipeti. In the G.N. Steeple Le Beau receives but 11b, whilst Kaipetipeti is set to give Eurus 61b. None of the horses mentioned have raced since the Hawke’s Bay steeplechase weights were issued, nor has the C.J.C. handicapper witnessed either of them race this season. Those who witnessed, how well Eur.jus; was galloping' in the 'Grand Steeplechase at Wanganui and how comfortably his rider was taking matters as he approached the last jump, where Eurus dislodged W. O’Connell and thus lost the race, express the opinion that the big steeple at Riccarton will prove an easy thing for him bar accidents. Those horses on the list below Eurus can have but little chance, whilst Kaitere, at his best, might account for those weights above Eurus. Mr Rutherford’s ’chaser will not, considering his rosy Grand National prospects, court earning a 151 b penalty by competing at Wellington. The North Island ’chasers may, under the circumstances, race at Trentham where, although the stake is of less value, the race looks fairly open and quite a number of horses appear to have a winning chance.