THE HANDICAPPING OF JACK POT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 560, 15 July 1909, Page 6

THE HANDICAPPING OF JACK POT.

' ,-• iTo.THB EDITOB.j ""• ~' ' Sir,—Your.correspondent' ','Fair Play" declares that thb; owner of Jack Pot is dissatisfied with ..the , impost allotted his, horse in the WoUingtoh.",b,teeplpcliase. '.:" Fair Play'" writes in' such an authoritative: manner that, one- can only- assume his effusion was inspired by the' owner of Jack : Pot;-indeed, this' view: is- apparently accepted, as a •niini-_ her of spdrtinjg'writers!throughout'NewiZealand have published,'on ''Fair:' Play's," I authority, a' statementythat';'.Mr'. ;■' Ellihgham ■ is. dissatisfied' with Jack'Pbt's weight .for the Wellington Steeplechase;-: and/that the horse will not, start;, nevertheless,:Mr; Ellingham has not.even' yet scratched Jack Pot.- . It seems passing strange that ''Fair Play," or those who. inspired the letter, awaited the declaration of the: C.J.C./Grand National Steeplechase .handicap before taking: exception to Jack Pot's impost in.the Wellington Steeplechase.., Had the GrancLNational not been framed' on a very much, lower scale than the Wellington handicap, and Jack Pot i not been sot' to meet, Eurus.on 61b. better | terms than when he had : hinV,well beaten in the. Hawke'B Bay; June. Steeplechase, your readers .would have seen. nothing of "Fair Play's',' letter. Why; did "Fair Play"- omit to'point ont.that 'in the Juno Stoeplechaso Jack Pot gave. Lingerer 2st." 91b. and a do? cisive ■ beating,' and that in the Grand National. Steeplechase ■ Lingerer only receives Ist. :71b.; will 1 "Fair 5 , Play" explain, how Lingerer is going to hold ; his .own with Jack Pot under such adverse circumstances? f , ' ' Now, sir, assuming that .the' owner of Jack. Pot really, thought he ■; had-.. a. grievance against' the Wellington handicapp6r,- his most manly course.wouldhavo; been to forthwith withdraw his horse' from, his engagement, and request ,the: Wellington stewards to ask their handicapper':to' furnish ;an.explanation in cohiiection .with: his handicapping .of Jack Pot., • Such, a course would, not, I ain sure," have been resented: by either, the W.R.C. stewards,or- their, handicapper; the latter, I ■ understand,'' treats all' horse-owners with the utmost courtesy,' and' takes, no exception to an occasional horseKwnbr ■ differing: with him; . Sporting men will',have i in mmdthe owner of' Penates: just a year ago indignantly 1 scratching his colt for, : the Wellington mooting,:- ;and .i a/, few -weeks .later' ! carrying heavier imposts in better company at : iiiccarton,: and annexing; tho Winter' Cup and August Handicap. In Jack Pot's case history may repeat itself, and the Wellington handicapper again score.—l am, etc., , 1 - . '.::,. ,^ LLAN ANDERSON.' | Weliingtou,,Juiy 13/ / ■'. ■" ■ .-