WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 985, 21 January 1909, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, January 20. The unseasonable and inclement weather of the past week has to some extent interfered with the operations of trainers who are assembled at Trentham. The Wellington R.C. Summer Meeting will be in full swing ere these lines reach “ Review ” readers, and only favourable weather is required

to render it successful. At the time of writing the sun is shining brightly, and there is every prospect of the ensuing week keping fine. The decision of the executive of the Ciub to get through the programme inside of the week appears co be highly appreciated by both owners and trainers, few of whom care to be too tong away from their homes, where in many cases numbers of valuable horses are left in charge of irresponsible persons during the absence of trainers. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday suit the majority, and the horses that have been racing at Trentham can all reach their homes by Tuesday at latest. Some surprise has been evinced at the absence of the Auckland owned horses. It was generally conceded that they had been fairly treated in the matter of weight, each and every one of them having been allotted considerably less than they had been racing with at Auckland. Probably the hard racing at Ellerslie had made most of them a bit stale, otherwise che valuab.e stakes offered by the Wellington Club should have tempted them away from home. The principal topic discussed in racing circles during the past week has been the indiscretion of the officials of the Manawatu Racing Chubin resolving to publish in full the detans of some unpleasantness that has arisen between the well-known Hawke’s Bay racehorse owner, Mr. E. J. Watt, and the Manawatu Racing

Club’s handicapper. The latter's friends seem unanimously of the opinion that the publication of the resolution arrived at by the stewards (who heard Mr. Watts’ complaint and Mr. Henrys’ reply) would have been ample. As it is, a whole bundle of dirty linen is now being washed at street corners by anonymous writers, much to the regret of the majority of folks interested in racing. Probably no public handicapper assumes chat his judgment is infallible. Should any weight adjuster take up that position and endeavour to support it by arguments, he will never be out of hot water. The handicapper who protests that he never errs will soon find himself confronted with a number of men probably as able to frame handicaps as he himself is. Most folks will realise that it is much easier to pull a handicap to pieces than it is to build one up. The old adage might be worth while remembering, “ Least said, soonest mended.” Stipendiary officials need omy be honest and strictyl conscientious and they will retain the goodwill of all classes of racing men. Quite perfect they never will be. At the monthly meeting of the committee of the Wellington Racing Club a matter of some interest to bookmakers was discussed, with the result that the stewards of the club will not permit licensed bookmakers to exhibit boards setting forth their prices. It appears that a certain class of fielders have been commanding an amount of patronage which their financial standing did not warrant by displaying their odds in large figures, and when settling comes the boards have proved a delusion and a snare, and backers have been victimised. In future the odds will have to be announced orally. The question of stipendiary stewards was also before the committee, a letter having been received from the secretary of the Wanganui Jockey Club, suggesting a conference to discuss the advisability of appointing stipendiary stewards to control future race meetings. After considerable consideration the question was postponed until the next meeting of the committee. It is understood that during the meeting at Trentham a strict watch

will be kept on riders who systematically irritate their mounts, and pretend they cannot be kept quiet at the starting barrier, with the object of disorganising the field, so that they can get a flying start. A couple of stewards will attend at the starting-post, and those offending will be given short shrift.