HANDICAPPING QUESTION

NZ Truth, Issue 1209, 31 January 1929, Page 11

HANDICAPPING QUESTION

The Amateur Critics and Their

Suggestions

(From ''N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative). Handicapping of the gaited horses is at present receiving more than its share of publicity.

IT is doubtful if there has ever been such an abundance of amateurs ready to criticize the work of the officials as there are at the present time. All manners of framing adjustments by systems and otherwise have been expounded. Ge.ting down to bedrock there has been nothing forthcoming that appears any way feasible to astute enthusiasts. In some instances the handicappers have come, m for censure with one breath for not adopting an orthodox principle, while with the next breath it is' suggested that they handicap on performances. In other words if it is an easy victory penalize accordingly and adopt a like procedure when the victory is of a scrape-home variety. "Truth" can't see that pleasing the multitude. To give general satisfaction "the" handicapper is yet to be born, for m present-day sport there are some own-

ers and trainers, who know not the meaning of the word satisfaction. Admittedly some of the handicapping has been hard to understand, but to read correspondence to tho press insinuating tnat the adjusters are incompetent is to say the least amusing. It would be interesting to see 1 some of the Auckland critics— more m particular those aspiring to handicapping honors — giving it a go themselves. , One suggestion that there be a board of two handicappers, plus as many owners and stewards, to take into consideration the state of the going and penalize accordingly seems a reasonable one. If the track is lightning knock off so many seconds, and if slow or heavy track place so many on, and then hanj dicap on the times the calculation dis- ; closes. It may work and it may not, but like other suggestions would cause dissent the same as the present-day system.