Hacks Defined

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 77, 19 December 1889, Page 3

Hacks Defined

» . "Hippo" in the Napier Telegraph has the following - — Many years ago there was »6 definition of what'eonl< stituted the qualification of a hack, * and to get over a' difficulty at one of - the old race meetiugs at Havelock, I I proposed rhat the qualification should be for horses that had never started ' in a weight-forage or a handicap race 1 (hack- races excepted). Since then 1 this qualification has generally been j adopted. But now that these so-called . hack races have so increased in nuiu* ber, and in value of stakes, the word * is a misnomer. So many clubs also slightly alter the qualifications that it makes it difficult to interpret their. exact meaning. Now, if in future all 1 clubs would drop the word "hack" and make the qualification simply for horses that have never won over a 1 certain amount — say some for horaes 1 that have never won over. £10, £'20, or £40 as the case may , be this would simplify matters greatly, suit all purposes, 'and lead to no confusion. If a few of the principal' clubs would jidopt this rule, all the smaller clubs, in self-protection, would have to do so. There is oau thing I eh >u'd also like to point out to up-counlry clubs. Between Boxing Day and New Year's ', Day there are about half-a dozea race - meetings advertised, all having their 'weights declared before the first meeting is held, and none of them provide for any penalties to be carried by winners of -any race after the weights 1 had been declared. By the time one . or two races, are run the horses have shown their form, and the meetings that come afterwards may be reduced to a moral, and then perhaps the handicapper blamed for what was really the fault of those who drew up the programme.