MELBOURNE CUP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3192, 17 September 1917, Page 7

MELBOURNE CUP

UNUSUAL PENALTY; CONDITIONS. Owing to the. accidental' omission of the word handicap" in the printed conditions pi the Melbourne Cup, penalties attach to winners of weieht-for-age races after Augujst 31, as well as to the winners of handicap events. The committee of the v.8.0. draws tho attention of owners and trainers to tho position, as the penalty conditions, being a departure from the usual ones appertaining to the big twomile race; have probably not been .noticed. As the-programmes for the Spring events at Caulfield and Plemington have not been'circulated (says the "Age"), it is probable that the weight-for-age races may be bo arranged that the winners 'will not be called upon to put up a penalty in the Oun; but this will, of course, unfortunately for owners, necessitate a reduction in the prizo money, particularly in the Melbourne Stakes, the added amount for wbioh. was 1000 eovs. last year. In previous yoara it was specially provided that the winners of tho Ooburg Stakes and Hotham Handicap were exempted irom the penalty clauses, but these, too, do not appear in the conditions on this occasion. Unless something is done as suggested, the best weight-for-age talent will not be attracted, and these events fo» the nonce will not be as interesting, as would otherwise have been the case. It ■ is imnos : elble, however, for any alterations to be made in regard to the weight-for-age events at Eandwick next month, and the winners of the A.J.O. Derby, Spring Stakes, Clibborn Stakes, and Eandwick Plate will, if engaged in the Melbourne Oup, be called upon to put up an extra 101b„ the added money for these races being 5000, 1500, 2000 and 1500 bovs. respectively. The winner

of tho Caulfield Guineas is another that will not escape tho penalty. If the New iiealand colt Biulauo were to succeed in the A.J.O. Derby, he will be called upon to carry 101b. on ton of 7st. 81b.. thus making his weight Bst. 41b.; while Princo Viridis, Blue Bolt, and other three-year-old colts, should they bo sucoessful, would bo entitled at Bst. 21b. Aurum carried Bst. 61b. into third place in the Melbourne Cud of 1897, but in view of tho unusual penalty conditions on this occasion the three-year-olds aro not likely to be rushed for the present in conuectiou with the big twomile handicap. Tho penalty provisions this year read as follow:—"Tho winner, alter AugUßt 31, 1917. of any race of the value to the winner of not less than 500 sovs.. or more than 1000 sovs. to carry 71b. extra; of any race of the value to tho winner of 1000 sovs. or upwards, 101b. extra* provided that the winner of tho A.J.O. or Victoria Derby shall carry in this racp not less than—colt or gelding, 7st. 61b.. filly 7st. lib." In tho Caulfield Cup it is provided that, the winner of "any handicap flat race" of the value to the winner of 1000 sovs. or over after the declaration of weights Bhall carry 14|b. extra, while the winner of the A.J.O. Derby, if a col*, will carry not less than 7st. 71b., and 7st. 21b. if a filly.