HANDICAPPING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 710, 9 July 1929, Page 15

HANDICAPPING

PROPOSED LIMITATION OF PENALTIES LICENSING ADJUSTERS (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, Today. In outlining what had been done by the select committee appointed to go into the question of handicapping, President Nicoll informed delegates today that there was unanimity of opinion regarding the principle of limitation of penalties for placed horses. The scheme devised by the assembly of experts met with the general approval of the executive, who considered it better —the annual conference being close at hand —to leave the question until the opinions of the clubs concerned could be heard in debate, and a new rule is accordingly to be submitted to you today for your consideration, giving this conference, or its executive, power to make regulations for handicapping otherwise than by a special resolution, said the chairman. There are few T reforms carried through without meeting honest objectors, and I am aware that there is opposition to this reform by some who do not realise the benefits that will accrue to the sport when this corner has been turned. You will remember that many were slow to appreciate the innovation of the uniform system of starting now in vogue, which all now recognise as a great improvement upon the old style under which we laboured, and those who. today, are antagonistic to the suggested revision of handicapping, may safely be depended upon speedily to approve when they see the results' of the new order. This adI justment is one that may possibly not be agreed to todaj*, but, in view of the unanimous desire of the leading owners and trainers and of many of the clubs for some such amendment, and of the manifest defects in the present system, it is certain that the existing conditions cannot continue unabated for long, and the reform is certain to eventuate within our time. Another suggested new rule tipon the ! order paper is that relating to the I licensing of handicappers. The handij capper’s position is one of the most important in the realm of trotting, and it is questionable whether it is to the advantage of the sport that there should be an unlimited number of these officials operating at one time. It has been suggested that this conference should appoint the handicappers to clubs, but I doubt whether we have progressed so far as that yet. and in the meantime it may be sufficient if you grant power to your executive to licence handicappers, thus raising their status and defining their position.