HEAD OF THE BAY HANDICAPS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 461, 21 December 1880, Page 2

HEAD OF THE BAY HANDICAPS.

To the Editor.

Sir, —In The Mail of the 14th inst. I saw a letter signed " J. H. Drury," making (to say the least of it) very unfavorable comments on my action as handicapper of the forthcoming Head of the Bay races ; but 1 do not think Mr J. H. D. knows anything about it; he only goes by what others tell him. He says he never heard of such a weight as list. I know that J. H. Drury and his friends do not think it fair that The Maid and Hollyhock should carry the weight, but he does not mention any of the other horses. Hollyhock is on even terms with the other horses, and The Maid has always proved a two stone better horse than anything she has ever met on the beach. I know that the weights are heavybut if he should go to the Hurunui race meeting he will see the horses race with list and upwards, sol think if he considers it is killing work for The Maid and Hollyhock to cany 9st 51b and list, he had better keep them at home and put them in a glass case, as all the horses can get riders with these weights. If the handicap had been made from 7st to 9st, some one would have made a noise about it, and if the distance was a mile and a-half he would have been justified in making a complaint, but as it is only half-a-inile spurt they are not hardly done by ; therefore the handicap is not likely to be altered.—l am, etc., It. A. MAIN, Handicapper.