LAHORE, Nov 13: Four-year-old by filly, Pind De Kuri, will be on song, given her present form, to register her third victory during the mid-week Lahore Gymkhana races to be held at the Racecourse on Wednesday.

From an unknown pedigree, the filly if wins will be the first ever of the many unknown pedigree horses to achieve the distinction of scoring a hat trick of victories at the Lahore Racecourse. On papers, she is unregistered bay filly but from confirmation she looks equally good at least like a half-bred. Her gait too is as stylish as well bred and fast in speed. She is the property of the Lahore Race Club (LRC) so she is performing consistently unlike other unknown pedigreed animals.

Pind De Kuri has won two back-to-back races on Oct 31 and Nov 7 and by her outstanding performance earned respectability to her likes.

She is contesting in the fourth race, the Chakwal Plate class VI division II to be gone over 1000 metres. Among her eight rivals Murad King, Gold Round and Shikari are prominent to put up a fight for supremacy.

The Chakwal Plate class VI division I to be contested over 1000 metres has seven runnersbarring last-minute withdrawals. Cheeta Aya, who is consistently performing on merit looks poised to win the event. Weldon Shogun and Sohna Billoo can pose some challenge to fail his bid for the winner’s box.

Sher Khan, Sohna Murad, Malang Aya and God’s Gift are the pick of the thirteen strong horses’ field for the third race.

Three-year-old bay colt Sher Khan, who was beaten on his two previous outings should make amends and win this time to salvage owner/trainer’s pride. The other should fight for a place on the board.

The sixth and last race, the Jhelum Plate class V division II, has eight runners, if there are no last-minute withdrawals. The two-year-old bay colt, Vallenday, beaten twice in as much outings, looks a good thing among the lot. The field consists of mostly two-year-olds and one cannot anticipate high profile performances from juveniles. Pick Of The Day and Magic Strides should also perform well. The grown up Babbu The Great, is a speedy animal but running after a long absence from the course.

The first two-events, are subscribed in totality by the unknown pedigree horses, with none showing consistency.

Meanwhile, some racehorse owners in Lahore have, while talking to Dawn, suggested that the handicapping of horses be modernized and brought in line with the present day requirements.

The initial concept of handicapping being followed in the racing countries, particularly those from where it originated, is to equalize the chances of all horses running in a race. That is aimed at making the racing competitive and sports thrilling to be enjoyed by the connoisseurs.

With the pressure growing on the racing industry due to economic constraints, they further suggested there is dire need of evolving some system of modernization of handicapping to replace the existing one.

At present the estimates of ability of the performers in races are relatively defined as plus twelve to eighteen pounds in weight to winners, four to eight pounds to the second placed and one to two pounds to placed third. Those unplaced get an allowance of four pounds or soon each run.

In such a system it is noticed, that it is not that the handicapper gives too many horses too good chance. It is obvious to any one examining handicaps, that he is giving far too many too much weight beyond the capacity of the runner virtually driving them out of competition.

It is to note the horses are not of the same standard and same pedigree. More over with the given outline it becomes difficult for the handicapper to go through all horses. Inevitably, there will be no flexibility in his assessment because under the given circumstances it may be the only way he can keep pace to shut every mouth closed.

They further suggested that before bringing any change, the handicapper be taught the basic principles of handicapping, he be provided technological aids available in the western countries and necessary manpower. An advisory committee of stewards be set up for judicious assessments of horses without violating the basic concept on which the handicapping is based. These are essential for making the sports competitive, attractive and enjoyable, which will rope in more owners and spectators.

They said the handicapper makes or mars racing. They cited the example of late Abdul Hameed Khan, LRC’s secretary/handicapper at the old Racecourse complex at Gulberg Road and Fazal Khan KRC’s ex-secretary/handicapper, who elevated their respective clubs to memorable heights. They were the men with profound knowledge of handicapping and racing and their achievements were acknowledged in racing circles even today.

The first race will be held at 2pm.

The following are the fields and our selections.

TALAGANG PLATE CLASS VII DIV I-B 1000M: