THE 0.J.0. MEETING.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 37

THE 0.J.0. MEETING.

By M. Quad.

Christchurch, November 9.

The Canterbury Jockey Club was not favoured with the best of weather for its opening day, the wind being too boisterous. There was a tremendous attendance, probably a record one, sportsmen "being present from ail parts of the colony. The Governor and Lady Ranfurly were driven on to the course just as racing commenced, and were received by the Hon. J, iB. Parker, Sir G. 'Clifford, and other stewards. Speculation was particularly brisk, £17,136 being passed through the tofcalisators.

" Missfire ran a great race in the. Hurdle Handicap, but could net reach Duadee, who had bsen in command for two-thirds of the'distance. Social Pest was a igood 'third. At the first hurdle' Nicholas nearly ran off, and at the fence opposite the stand both Kaibi aud Nat ran round. The winner, who is by Duntroon, ran the two miles in 3min 52 3 ssec, aud paid £21 2j.

Bloomer placed the result of the Maiden Plate beyond'doubb when well in the straight, winning easily from -Fill men, who was a length in front of Btarshot. who finished very fast. Female "Franchise and Alcestis were prominent for half a mile, and Dotterel was slow ingotting away. Time, lmin 44§see. Dividend, £3 .Is 6d.

Strathbraan, The Brook, and St. Conon were taken out oMlie Gup. The totalisator investments on the remaiude.r were as follows :—455: — 455 Day Star, -642 Sfc. P«ul, 913 Waiuku, 480 Skirmisher, 399 Lord Rosslyn, 1035 Epaulet, 471 Haria, 238 Leda, 371 ' Venus, 135 Primul*, and 332 Sir launcelofc. Mr Piper did not Jreep the field waiting long afc the post, Waiuku having the best -of the break away. Pasiing the stand Haria and Venus were side by side, 'Day "'Star 'bringing up the rear. Going round the b«jk Haria was leading, with Lord Rosßlyn, "Venus. Skirmisher, Epaulet, and Leda next in that order, with Day Star closing up. Commencing the top "turn Haria began to go back, whilst Bb. Paul and Epaulet made a forward move, the .positions constantly changing until the straight was entered, where Epaulet and Waiuku were together, with .St 'Paul close up and Skirmisher .running well fourth. Up to 'this point the pp.ee had nob been fast, the gale perceptibly, affecting 'the field. Here, however, the wind was almost behind the horses, and Waiuku forged ahead of Epaulet, ■ who dropped into about fifth position. St. Paul nas being hard ridden, as also was Skirmisher ; but "they were ' making little impression on Waiuku, White riding him for all he was worth. At the distance Epaulet came again, but the effort wag of no ava.il, aa Waiuku ran home a winner by a length and a-half, the judge placing St. Paul second and Epaulet third. From the press stand it looked as though 'Epaulet was a long neck in front of St. "Paul. Skirmisher was only a. long neck away, fourth. Bad Derrett been able to do justice to his mount 'he would have, troubled the winner, but sweating to ride Mr Stead's horse naturally took a lot of energy out of him. Epaulet made a tremendous run six furlongs from home, and went through to the lead at a grcab pace. The fact that the horss came again with a brilliant run proves that had he been vigorously ridden the result might have been different. St. Paul was also asked "to make his effort too soon. The race was run to suit Waiuku, giving him a chance .to show hit sprinting ability. Haria had run -himself out before .going a mile And a-half, and finished almost last alongside his mate Day Star, who never once looked to have a hope. Skirmisher's detractors will scarcely dub him as un-' reliable now, ' as the ran f a really good race, gamely struggling to the end, Xiord Jloeslyu fiuished some lengths behind Skirmisher. Leda was never dangerous, and the same may be said of Primula and Sir Launcelot. The two miles were covered in 3a>in '30sec, the winner paying -£5 7s 6d. White rode Lady Z9tland.last year, and has now repeated his success on Waiuku. The stable stood to win a good stake, as also did Whit"

Marino at the distance looked like winning the Riccarton .Walter Handicap, but Defiant finishing at a tremendous pace jusfc jrot.up in time to defeat ,him by a neck, with Remorse close u,p third. Zephyr ran well, and only gave up when close home. Defiant covered the six furlongs in lmin 16 4-'ssec — good going for a three-year-old carrying 9.5. Dividend, £2 10s.

The atari 'for the Welcome Stakes wrs ,a bit straggling, ifc b&ing impossible to see owing to clouds of Suat what 'jumped away first. When well on their way, 'however, it was seen that Conqueror .and Dandas were close together, Mr ' Stead's colt gaining the verdict by less thaa ft length ; Altaic third four lenethslawajr. The

official time wai given as 46£ sec, which constCc tutes a record which is likely to stand for many a year. Many private watch-holders made tha time from 47sec to 48sec. The gale blowing assisted the youngsters, bub I am afraid they heat the timekeeper. Conqueror is a fine colt;, and is a credit to his breeding. Dundas ran a fine race, as did also Altair, but the others were never in it.

Starahot succeeded after many failures in putting down the favourite in Double Event and winning the Ladies' Purse, paying the nice dividend of £5 15s. Black Eagle finished third.

The Stewards' Handicap — always a hard race to pick — was won by Boreas, White driving him along in great style." iSedgebrook, second, was just in front of Blazer, the remainder of the field tailing off.

Mauser woo the Shorts by a neck from Windermere, Wedlock third. The winner was sold for £18 to Mr J. Harris.