FAST TRACKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 625, 30 March 1929, Page 9

FAST TRACKS

HANDICAPPING PROBLEM WHERE WILL IT END IMPROVEMENTS AT THAMES After the fast times recorded at Claudelands recently there was a hue and cry raised that htndicappers should make some allowance for those performers which clipped so much off their handicap on the electric speedway. The Thames adjuster adopted this plan, but again there was a repetition of the clock-winding business, particularly in the novice division, while in some cases those let up on their Ham j ilton records, rolled home registering excellent time. Te Ngutu, after tramping 3.46 1-5 at Claudelands into second berth, was thrown in on a 3.52 mark and she accepted the gift by scoring comfortably in 3.47. Tony Victor, who won pulling up in the mile at the Waikato fiture in 2.13 1-5, was placed on 2.50 in the ten-fur-long last Saturday, equivalent to 2.16 to the mile. Like the trotter Tony Victor showed his appreciation of such treatment by collecting the stake easily, recording 2.47 4-5 for the journey. Nella Dillon, after winning at Claudelands over a mile and a-quar-ter in 2.53 2-5, was put on the front (2.54) of a similar race at Thames, and while the Author Dillon mare did not return a dividend, she got third money and went 2.53. TAKING A RISK These instances are cited to show that the Hamilton form, apart from the lightning track, was correct, and it may be argued again that the Thames course was in a similar speedy state, but results go to prove that, no matter what the conditions are, handicappers are taking a risk in liberally treating winners in such fashion. Warspite showed that the Thames footing was conducive to fast time by tramping 3.31 from a 3.43£ peg, while the second horser, Te Whatu, also knocked a big slice off his handicap. Yet, if these pacers, or any others getting a situation last week-end in vastly improved time, are to be shown extreme leniency on account of the “track,” it will make it exceedingly difficult for owners of horses who were fairly and squarely beaten, and clubs will suffer when acceptance day rolls round. Handicappers are faced with a peculiar problem in this respect, but after the Thames happening it seems logical to get away from the track bogey as far as possible and a-ssess on performances. until the long looked-for handicapping millenium arrives.