“MONKEY” WEIGHTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8342, 31 January 1913, Page 9

“MONKEY” WEIGHTS

NOT IN VOGUE SIXTY YEARS AGO. Special to the " Times.” WANGANUI, January 30.

In the course of some very interesting reminiscences of the early days in Ueiliugton, Mr Donald Fraser, of Bulls, says tho first racecourse was on To Aro flat. The winning post was just about where tho Royal Oak now stands. I rode there myself in 1849. There was no handicapping. There were only one and two miles races, in heats; the best two out of three to be declared the winner. We had horses that could carry men up to 12 stone or 14 stone 100 miles in fifteen or sixteen hours. Breeders did not have to study how to breed horses for short races and “monkey” weights. It is difficult to get a horse now that will carry a man of 12 stone or 14 stone 100 miles in fifteen or sixteen hours. This is, in my opinion, going back. There are two things that have to be dealt with in the breeding of the racehorse now —the handioapper first, the totalisator next. The actual breeder had no say, although \yo have, I think, the best climate and soil in tho world to produce a good horse.”