WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB HANDICAPS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 908, 30 August 1910, Page 7

WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB HANDICAPS.

I'"Dummy" writes as follows:—"I wish ;to draw attention to features of Mr." U. Shannon's handicapping for the AVairarapa Hunt Club meeting,'to bo held on .the Taratahi course on September 1. Tho ■trouble is this:—Two/local horses, Merry Land and Leahora, arc entered, and the latter has to concede weight to .the former. .Leahora lias only performed very moderately, while .Merry Land has a number of races to his credit. For instance, I will ■givo you' an idea of his performances. Merry Land's first appearance was nt the Hunt Club meeting at Taratahi last season, when he won both hack races in very hollow fashion, carrying 9st. and 9st. 101b. respectively. A month later, Merry Land ran second in tho Hack Flyling at Martinborough, winning second day with Bst. lib.; Leahora, 7st. 121b., unplaced. These two horses mot again on .Novsuiber 9, at the Taratahi meeting, in

I the Belvedere Hack Handicap. Ow this occasion, Lealiora, 7st. 211)., filled third place, Merry Land, Ts.'lOlb., unplaced.. On the second day, Merry Land, 7st. 81b., won 'very easily, Lealiora, 7st. .Mb., unplaced. At the Mastorton Autumn Meeting, Merry Land put up. a fine periormnnce by winning tlio Railway Hack Handicap in limn. J5 4-f>?-ec. Ho raced again at the K.C. Easter Meeting, j carried Oat. slb. (top-weight), running ft very good sccond to Succession, Bst. wlo. I wish to mention that before this race Merry Land reared over in the straight, injuring his back,-which caused him to bo spelled for a portion of the present season. Yet with such performances to Merry Land's credit, Mr. Shannon has set Lealiora (who has only a moderate performance) to concede Merry Land Sib. at the coming Wnirarapa Hunt Club Meeting. Merry-Land carried 9st. 101b. to victory at last year's meeting, and Mr. Shannon allots hiiu 21b. more for tho sanio race this season. I havo -witnessed Merry Land working every day, and can say, without contradiction, that this particular gelding referred to lias done nothing moro than steady work, being led on a pony for two miles by tho present owner s i nephew. It is very hard to say whether Merry Land can accomplish the same feat again at the coming meetufg with all his Kind handicapping. It tetids to show that tho has a canons idea of tho value ot performances. Our greatest trouble is this: Should Merry-Land fail to catch the judge's eye on September I,'at Taratahi, and be reserved for the November meeting to be held at Taratahi (where Mr. Shannon handicaps for same), what weight, then, will Merry Land receive?" - ■ —~ -r ■ -i .