THE D.J.C. HANDICAPS.

Evening Star, Issue 3669, 25 November 1874, Page 2

THE D.J.C. HANDICAPS.

ToiheEdUofy Sir, —I.noticed in last evening’s issue of your paper a communication from a correspondent, the tenor of which was that on account of the majority of horse owners accepting the weights allotted them for the St. Andrew and Spring Handicaps, they were satisfied with the impost on them; and also that the action of several horse owners meeting together, protesting, and taking steps for ensuring more justice in future, was wrong, and that I was the only one dissatisfied. The assertion that they all but one accepted is not true, and thp reason of so many accepting as did, was due"to mtfiy Cirfcunlstances other than the excellence of 1 ' the handicaps, which, coming from the principal racing club, in New Zealand, bore a most unworkmanlike stamp on them. It being the commencement of the season, and as no other meeting will take place for some time, was one reason. Some elected, after the trouble and expense they had been put to in preparing their horses, to run under any weight; some accepted on the mere chance of others not doing so, and thinkin'g perhaps the handicapped might be kinder and console them with ‘the Consolatloi Stake. The handicaps for the last season have been very indifferent, and nothing like former meetings. I hope on this occasion it will be different. It should produce a contest between the following horses for the St. Andrew:—Traitor, Pertobe, Mabel, Envy* and Tadmor ; for the Spring, Traitor, Envy* Somnambula, and Verbena, with Nelly King for an outside show. The others I oonsid4 out of it.—l remain, &0,, __ , Arthur Smith. November 23.