"HARDSHIP CLAUSE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1032, 24 July 1930, Page 15

"HARDSHIP CLAUSE”

peculiar conditions for trotting events assessment rule Special to THE SU ,Y CHRISTCHURCH, Wed. « n unsatisfactory position has . ..;**n over the conditions for the main events of the Metropolitan August meeting. Although Logan's Pride has won in 4.26 1-5, he is orectuded from taking part in the August Handicap because the conditions state that horses “must be assessed by the club's handicapper to do 4.30 or better.” When 11 is considered that the Ne\v Zealand Cup conditions include horses nat have done the time, it appears that the August Handicap contains what might very well be termed a hardship clause,” in that the owner of Logan’s Pride is obliged to have liis horse transferred to a class where he is asked to give away 48yds to a field of improvers capable of making him better his best. Logan’s Pride may prove equal to the task confronting him, but at the same time that extra second, which his

owner was anxious to give away, may all the difference between suc- ‘ ‘ and a clean sheet at the meeting. Chef John Noble and Gang Awa are similarly affected, as they have been •ransferred from the Trial Handicap ,4.40 limit) to the Queen Mary Handicap (4.35 limit). Logan's Pride started in the Prince of Wales Handicap at the Auckland winter meeting, off 4.30. It seems strange that having this mark to his credit alloted by the same handicap-„er_-that tho Hutt pacer is not deemed elig.ble for the 4.30 August Handicap at Addington. „ . [Gang Awa's last mark was 4.36 in the Adam's Memorial Cup at Epsom last month, in which she ran unplaced. Under the Metropolitan "assessment of handicapper” rule the Longburn pacer is put into a tighter class, which penalises her I2yds. The position certainly appears most unsatisfactory and with suck a clause operating, owner’s find it difficult to know just where they stand. —"Abaydos." j