THE SUMMER RACE MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1039, 2 January 1884, Page 2

THE SUMMER RACE MEETING.

To the Editor. Sir, —The lucky owners of Hinerna, Moody and Co., must congratulate them* selves on their escape at the lenient hand* of the stewards of the Ashburton Racing Club. The public has hitherto looked upon’ the latter gentlemen as a rather severe .body, which dealt out summary justice on the suspicion of unfair running. Thfe yoilthfulness of the offenders and the ’ " apparent contrition of the rider of Hine- ’ rua must have turned the scale in their favor, as your local contemporary says that the s f ewards “ considered there were not sufficient grounds to justify further action.” As your critical correspondent “Fair Play” puts it, “What would those credulous gentlemen think suffi- , cient grounds ?” How can handicaps be made when a horse that receives a 41b beating in a weight for age race wins a handicap immediately afterwards giving a 101 b t eating to the same animal that won the weight for age race just before, the weights and distances being much the same in both races, and wins with plenty to spare. Here is a difference «f a stone a difference in distance of thir.y lengths. How di I the handicippers, if they oonsiderei Ifinerua’s ruining in the Town Plate true running, come to the conclusion that Hinerna should be raised a pound iu the Chtistmas Handicap, and that Polly should remain at the same weight? This would be equivalent to Jving the r ;ce away to Polly, and any owner who r-w 1 f. - ly would scratch his horse on the appearance of a handicap in which he : was treated j s'> unfairly. The owners of Hinerua were too plucky Who™* daunted by a 41b beating and unjust . t handicapping, and proved to their own satisfaction and that of the handlesppera that they might have put a stone on her and then she would not have bean out of * it. The stewards seam to be satisfied, and so must be One of the Unhappy Ppbxjo. ~