CANTERBURY DOING

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 33

C ANTERBURY DOING

J6v M. Qut».

lhe oue great, topic of sporting conv&rsatwn : daiing the last few weeks ha 3 been the Catiler- { huiy Trotting Club's "Winter taeetiag — how wculd the bes^ of the local horses s?iap<i when pitted againct thefoteigners, the prospects of fino veather, and l.he 1 thousand and one items of interest lo x-roitiug men. The club could not have ordered a finer autumnal day than was last Thursday, and the officials are to be ccmpliluentad on the completes ess of the general ar» an^einent-j both for visitors, vwaers, and hcrses. It is do wonder there ■ftas » large attendance- a record one, by the way,— aud I feel suve that not oae individual left the grourd Avho did uot feel pleased and elated at the fact that he had seen the best trotter the colonies Las produced, to say nothing of the remainder of exceptionally fine animals which look pait in the proc.edingij. Contrary to general anticipations, j the contests were r>ot as a rule close. Spt-uu-lavion was better by £396 thaa the amount; ! handled on the same day last year. Those i people who feared that Mr Buckland wculd win the majority of the events were agreeably disappointed, and whilst I am pleased that the Australian sportsman is likely to at least pay the expenses of his trip, perhaps it ia as well in the interests of the sport that local horses were not e-.ttiieli' suv.ffed out. At the same time I think ~\' T in Idjsid ought to have won the Juvenile Stakes wih What. In the unduly short prelimi- J ii. j '. uv jji'Viing was a bit fractioiip, and showed a di-intlmation lo face the ciowd. Had What ktiin gLvon a rousing preliminary there is little •Icubt but that the heavily-endowed Juvenile j Stakes ..would have gone to Anstralia. j Sunshine, although she repeatedly broke, won ! the Maiden -Saddle Handicap from scratch with j ♦he greatest ease, distancing a poor lot. This i latter fact, however, does not in the least detract I from the merit of Ler performance from, a time-} standpoint. She completed the journey in smin I Ji3 4-ssec, ard coves-ed the middle mile ia 2tninT;6£tec\ Yet, to look at her going, no idea of her speed can be obtained. She is it Avell-grown racyIcioking animal and much resembles Beware (who is by the same sire) in her syle of progression. Mr Buckland was congratulated on winning the iir.it event. Another Australian-bred one scored in the following evRJil — the Pony Harness Handicap — Aik-en I2sec having an easy victory. Sha is very fast for-her inches, as will be gathered from the fftct that she put up the fast time of 5 31 4-saec for the two rcileß. Narragansett, JVlr Seade'3 Sydney I por.y, was slow to begin, but could scarcely have beaten the winner in any case. Worthington and Iluby II trotted well, but seemed to be bored out a good deal by Narragansett when going round the top and down the back stretch. Skipper finished second, NarraganjetS third and Woithingt.on fourth. The first heat of the Juvenile Stakes was contested by three -Reality, by Imperious — Lady Berlin; Gentle Child, by Bothscbild— Calder ; aud Florence, by Kothsnhild — Madge. The firstnamed won in the slow time of Sinin 15gsec. The winner is one of the lazy division, but trots steadily, although requiring a deal of encouragement. Gentle Child might have won bad lie been given a fair chance. It was the first time he had been tried in a pneumatic &ulky, and, under the circumstances, did well. Both of the above are somewhat big, and should be heard of later on. Florence is a bit flighty in addition, and was not ready. Only two contested the second heatviz., George M. Patchen, by Rothschild — Linton, and What, by Sb. Louis— Whisper. The Otago colt, Irott'mg very steadily, won easily, the Australian gelding declining to settle down. Tne time for this heat was 2min 4Sd3c, which must be considered good, especially when it is known that Mr Crossan's youngster was sore. '3 he southern sportsman's win was well received. Mr Crossan holdß a very fair chance of winning the final, which is to be decided on Tuesday (to-morrow), i George M. Patchen went through several hands ; before being purchased by his present owner. He j : was bred by Mr J. Thorne (who also bred i > Gentle Child), and is from a Bundoora mare. \ 1 The third heat was contested by fiva— Though t, ; IV St. Louis— Hush ; Plan, by Specification— { BUck Angel; Brook S., by Brooklyn— Traducer • '■ mare ; Director, by Imperious — Watla3s ; and i Jiilrcth, by Rothschild— Kilbrony Maid. Director., was favouiite. Plan, a plain-looking gelding, \ trotted steadily throughout, and it was only in 1 the last stride that the breaking Director got up : and won on the post. Director should have won < easily. For two-thirds of the distance he was ' certainly not at top, and Mr Mace's youngster 1 did not show his bsst speed until a break at the j bottom turn forced him to his best speed coming up thQ straight. Two lengths from, the post he ' went up, and Pi&n foUowed his example im- { : »WSWW Mtewfitffctf %£&t*m m6W settle

J down until begmging the last found, which, it got ovev quicker than either of the other two, ; but it was then too late. Time, 2min 47sec. The American-bred Lauderdals, hailing from , Otago, ecored a fairly easy win in the Winter ; i Handicap (in saddle). The winner got to the front j when half tho distance had been covered, Itarus ' • running into second place beginning the last ' three-quarters. General Luck trotted well, as did ! • the Manawatu horse Awahuri, the lait-tiamed > I pair finishing together outside the distance. • Laudeidale ran the two miles in smin 10i&ec, j trotting at an even gait throughout. Silver Cloud I shaped well in bits, and has rather a showy ; action, but Booby was almost last. Spec, Heather j Dew, Gwynre, Mailow, and Master Irvington shaped well. The appearance of Fritz on the track was the ! signal for a round of applause. Naturally the | . champion was closely scanned l>y everybody, and i I those, including tnyeelf, who had seen him in his ! box could scarcely imagine that it was the same j horse. Fritz was described by roost of the local ! I pressmen who saw him at his quarters as a rather ] j plaiu horse, and I formed this opinion of him n»y- I j self. Nearly all horses improve in looks when ' I harnessed or riddpn, but few as Fritz does, yet ! ! deepif-e this improvement, the ordinary individual ! would be apt lo overlook him jf his abilities were ! not known. To seehim prancing about champing | his bit, the champion gives the impression that jhe is somewhat excitable. Wildwood, Hattie S.. ! Monte Carlo, Kentucky, Mambrino Abdallah, and ' Rita composed the remainder of the field in the j Aldington Handicap, the conditions of which im- I posed a lOsec limit. When lined up to startrit was generally remarked that a finer field had never faced any trotting starter in the colony. They all looked well, and remembering their respective abilities, a first-class contest was i looked for. Excitement rose as the signal was j given to Mambrino Abdallah and Rita to go. One after the other they left the mark, Wildwood getting away badly. Fritz was slow in moviug, and someone called out— -"Go on, you're late!" " Oh, never mind, that's all right," replied Mr Auckland, his pilot, and when the champion got | under weigh he was fully 2seo behind his time, i No sooner had he settled down than exclamations of aatonifhruent at the horse's great pace were heard all over the ground. "Look at him!" I " Why, he's galloyjing ! " and other remarks fairly j forced from the excited crowd as the heese pluckily passed one after the other almost as Uiough they were standing still. Hettie S. ran through to the lead in the first quarter. Mamj brjno Abdallah next. The Yarraman mare, well ; driven by D. Price, was going great guns and soon f placed a gap bptween herself and the remainder I of the local horses. At the end of the first round ; CDveredbyi I rrtziromastandingstarl;,lminß2-ssec 1 I the champion, had evidently got the field at his j meicy. Flying past the stand the applause burst j forth, the people thus early acknowledging their I admiration. As the horse ran down the back i stretch, going very wide, he was travelling at a I tremendous pace, and, going on, was timed to cover j his second half in 1.8, the full mile in 1.175, J --many private watches making it less. ComI rnencing the second mile Hattis S was just in I ftont of Fritz, but going rouud the top Mr Bockland ran up alongside the mare, but Fritz, running somewhat wide, just commencing the back stretch Hattie S. had a slight lead until half way down, where the pair were level. " She's holding him!" rang out from all parts r.f the SGwrse, but as the pair approeched the turn Mr Buckland drew his vi' Lip, ami after the fl-dl Lad whistled thivugh tse tir a few limes, lufr without touching him, Fritz fairiy jumped <way from his g*Jkat opponent. Price rightly steadied Hattie S. at onee — it was useless trying to catch the flying machine in front of him ; whilst the remainder did not complete a mile. Finishing a mile and ahalf, which Fiitz covered ia 3miu ) 29? sec, he was out by himself, and running along • at his cwa pace finished- the entire distance in 4mfn LO4 ssbC, thus breaking all New Zealand tecordj at r.H distances. Mr Uuckland aud his grand 1 <use are probably accustomed to enthusiastic recepti&tis, but tho Austzalian sportsnspn musi. have felt extremely gratified at the hearty applause which was maintained right throughout the raca, culminating in a peifect roar as the horse ran home ; and as Mr Buckland whe&led his hot-se rouud in front of the judge he was surrounded by a cro*d whose outburst of enthusiasm was is much a tabuteto the enterprising ipomman as it vas to his graad liorse. How Fritz paid such a dividend as £2 it Is ward to understand. The champion must be aa extremely easy horse to drive. hi« pilot holding the reins in his left hand whilst gently patting the horse's quarter with the other. ilv Seftoa has often remarked that Hettie S. was a great mare, J and how well she bore out her former owner's opinioa was seen in this race. Wildwood wa3 not j himself. .Some day this horse will show pace i almost eijual to thar, registered by Fritz. Ido not say that he could defeat ihe Austialian horse, but I feel confident he can trot two miles in 4min GOsec, although this doeo not represent the geldmgs ability. A lumouv that attempts would be made to block Mr Buckland's horse caused three of the stewa- da to take up positions at the back of the course ; but the unfounded rumour had no possible chance of being carried out. The three j gentlemen early recognised this fact, and laufhingly returned to the enclosure. Polly Hugh, another Australian-bred oue, and owned by Captain Pophan, followed up her j maiden victory at Lancaster Park by annexing the Progressive Handicap in pronounced fashion, I Arahura finishing second, and Booby, who went j much better in harness 'than he did in saddle, j third. Woodbine, from Auckland, who was. well I backed, failed to get through, and Honest Jack -> was slow to move. Polly Huon must be looked I upon as one of the best animals we have, seeing that she cut out the two miles in omiii 20atnin. A tremendous field went out in the Electric Handicap, Awahuri, who was coupled ou the machine with the penalised Sunshine, not being all out, winning by a length and a-half from Lassie, who was closely followed by Little Willie. • A break by Jessie and one by the winner when rtea-ing home almost allowed the scratch horse to win, which he might have done had luck favoured him. Viva, ridden by Mr Buckland, ran well. The Dash Harness Handicap was won by an outsider in Collector, who has evidently made a j vast improvement, as he cut out the mile in 2min 36 3-ssec. Isabel ran a, good race, finishing second, and Utah, who looked like scoring at the half, broke up badly. St. Louis bolted off the mark, and his pilot, Parish, had all he could do to restrain him. The veteran Ha-Ha showed great pace, as also did Violelt«i, jun., who finished third, just outside the distance. Viva was fourth, Manton fifth, Monte Carlo sixth, and Viking seventh. The ttarting clock was used throughout the day, but cannot be described as an unqualified success. The committee of the Canterbury Club met on Friday evening, and adjourned until Saturday, for the purpose of considering the best course to adopt in connection with the Free-for-all, to be run to-morrow It was generally thought that the presence of Fritz would destroy all interest in the race, and cause the withdrawal of local horses. This meant that the champion would have a walk-over for half the stake, and so that the horse's owner might give au exhibition of Fritz's speed it was agreed to oSer Mr Buckland a purse if he would attempt to bs.it the horse's record o£ 2miu 14 i-ssec fnr a mile. At the same time is v*as egreed to ti^ke » new free-for-all, Fritz barred, for & stake of £',O. However, when the lists were piade up it was found that 5u addition to Mr Bucklat.d's pair, Frit % and St. Louis, Kit*,' Moote Carlo; and Ha-Ha had been i left in, so that the proposed alteration could not be f carried out, although I know that some of, the j acceptors were paid up tvr, ho that Mr ißuckland' i could get the full stake. Is is almost a pity the \ stewards' idea was not carried out, as under their suggestion, a local horse might have annexed tho ; j nevv stake, now they are likely to get nothing, as ; • Fritz may distance the field, aud so get the wholo ! stake. Mr Bucklasd has expvessed a desire to become , a member of the Canterbury Trotting Club, ac- ; eompanying his desire with very flattering remarks as to the manner the club conducts its affairs, and especially its meetings. This is high praise, indeed, coming from such a source, and should encourage, the. club executive to still greater efforts to benefit the sport. Last week, in referring to the purchase by'H. j Thomson of a full brother to Starshot, the horae's ! name appeared as "LasceUes" : it should ho.vh beBU Versailles,

Although hot exactly a sporting item. Mr BuclE; land tellß a good story about a big fellow who sadly desired to lean on his shoulder. Thia occurred at a big show gathering in the neighbourhood of Sydney, and on Mr Buckland expostulating, he was invited to put up his hands. "All right," said Mr Buckland, "you go over "to one of thr-se loose boxes and I will join you tbeie." The fellow went, and the narrator, quite forgetting the compact, was surprised a short time afterwards to be reminded of it by his would-be opponent, who said he had been waiting in the loose-box for him. " Oh, all right, I'll come!" Taking a good lock at Fiitz's owner, the big man suggested that they should shake hands; which was RRreed to. Ju^t as he was turning away, the man remarked to Mr Buckland, who has had the misfortune to have his nose injured : " I niakfc it a rule never to scrap with a man with a nose like yours. You're a battler !"

After the conclusion of the races, when Hulda was beicg driven home in a light vehicle, as she was approaching the gates leading from the Show grounds she reared up and fell heavily on the road, and received such a severe concussion that she is not expected to recover. The pony Narragansett also met with a mishap returning home, as be got away with the sulky and bolted about a couple of miles before hs was secured again. Bejoad a few scratches the pony has not received any injury.

I* Starahot was fairly well supported for tha Birthday Handicap,! but Arline was neglected, whilst Maremxna was scatcely mentioned. Ray nearly succeeded in winniug with his recent purchase, and it was perhaps ill-luck to be beaten by i the marc he has but recently gold, i 'I he aunual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey j Club wns held on Thursday. The Hon. B. W. j Parker presided, and there were 18 members pre- . sent. The report (which has already been pubi li-shed) and balance sheet were read. The Chair- . man, in moving the adoption of the report and • balance sheet, said that as regarded the general business of the club, he might mention that upon j his reHirn from England Mr G G. Stead very j gererously offered a Cup, of lOOgs, to be given >in i such a race as the committee might decide was in ■ the interests of the club. Mr Stead, afc the same j time, without attaching any great weight to it, j suggested that it should be added to the New Zea'and Cup of the Spring meeting of 1898. Tha committee, after consideration, hnd adopted the suggestion. The members would remember that during the year the ciub had a certain amount of trouble with the bookmakers whom they , essayed to keep of? tha j course, so as to protect as far as possible the I rights of the club. It was a matter of history j that the club were defeated in their action owing to their by-laws not being sufficiently explicit. Since then the trustees had gona thoroughly into the by-laws, had drawn up a new set passed at a proper meeting, and in a very short I time they would be -advertised that the public | may have the benefit of them. They would also I bep&stelin prominent and convenient places on i the course. With regard to the work oa the couiE-e itself he mentioned that the club had ordered a new semaphore from England, -which, would show the names of the jockeys and horsesi and everything in connection with the race afc hand. It wsuld be the best tiring of its kinrt possessed in the colony— quite up-to-date, and very far ahead of anything of the kind unon the racecourses iti Englaud. The machine was expected to be ready by the Grand National meeting. It was being erected on the opposita • side of \,he t co\me facing the ftrand stand, so that it would be distinctly visible to alrr ost every parfc !of the racecourse facing that way. Anotnei" matter he_ wished to bring forward, which had been mentioned. in the report, was tha resignation, of Mr Tabart, who had acted as honorary judga for the last 10 years. The committee recommended that the resignation should be accepted, and oil this mattter he would move a motion later on. With regard to the appointment of a [successor the committee had no intention of making any recommendation to the meeting, uufc they h-.>pe before long to find some pprson competent to fill that important office. While on the subject they will take into consideration whether the official ahould not be a i&laried officor of the club. He concluded Dy moving the motion. Me Stead seconded the motion. After making a statement as to the finances of the club, which he , dealt with fully, Mr Ulead combated the opinion j which had been expressed as to the personnel of j the committee. One letter to the public press, tie speaker said, suggested that a Ids totalisator -should be established. This question the committee had given jrreat consideration to, but as they were permitted by law to have only three machines, the executive arc of opinion that i 6 would be a loss to the revenue if they made one of them a 10s machine. The Dunedin Club tried it, and it was generally understood that they regretted having tried the experiment, their revenue having fallen off considerably as tha result. Your committee, after veiy careful consideration of the subject, do not think it advisable to convert one of the machines into a 10s machine*. As regards membership, this club ig practically open to any respectable person who will pay his subscription, and the privileges returned for the subscription are in proportion greater than the amount paid. With legard to the accusation that the ciub catered principally for well-to-do owners, he ehowed that owners who were supposed to be specially catered for— in classic races — contributed 71 per cent, of the stakes, while owners whe contributed to handicaps paid only 29| per cent. — The Chairman moved — That the chairman be requested to convey l to Mr F. 0. Tabart the thank 3of the members for his gratuitous services t»s judge for the past ten yearp, and that in con veying the resolution the j chais man ask Mr Tabart to accept a life meial-er- | ship of the club and a cheque.for IBOgs." All were fully aware of the services Mr 'Tabart had givsn to the club and tcr what.the club was indebted to him. Mr Stead seconded the motion. Ha thought that the whole club realised that no more conscientious judge ever acted at Riccarton than Mr Tabart. The motion was carrkd uoar.imoiwly.— In answer to questions the chairman said that the committee found' tUniiselves in this position, that the rac<seoi;rsa was a Government reserve, and therefore they did not feel justified in erecting a building for tho use of members only. The matter of extending the picket teace was Under serious consideration. The following new members were elected : — Messrs R. C. Bishop, Jno, Connai, J. V. N. Grig-jr, h. Matson, J. Stanley Monck, J. A. Randall, A. O. Rolleston, and Henry Wood. The election «-r stewards resulted as usiclei •— Messrs A. Bojle, TI. A. Knight;, G. F. Martin, F. H. Payne, J. V>. Reid, R. Heaton Rhodes, D. Rutherford, C B. Winter, Sir Gto. Clifford, Hous. E. W. P.uket and L. Walker. The election of a commitrpe resulted as under .-—Messrs A. Boyle, W. F. M. Buckley, P. Campbell, G. F. Martir, R. >L Morten, F. H. Pyue, J. r>. Reid, J. Studlninip, C. F TotHmnter, O. Hood William*, C. B. AVinttc Sir Geo. Clifford, and Hod. E. W. Parker. Medal was shipped to Wellington on Tuenky. Mr T. Bassett's well-known hunter JKahi iva. found dead in his paddock at Oxford on Siuo.iy last, fiahi, who had won several vacee,. «vas turned out, and on Friday was seen to be a\J < is'i I. but on Sunday morning, when visited, lie vo.s found dead.

Mr J. Perkins, president of the CanterbiUjTrotting Club, has received from the Hon. J. Carroll an acknowledgment of an invitation to the club's intercolonial meeting. The Colonial Secretary thanki Mr Perkins for the invitation, and says he would like to be present if circumstances permit. The presence of trotters from tha other colonies .will, Mr Carroll remarks, give increased interest to the meeting. At Tattersall's, to-day, the thoroughbred colfc Lepanto, by Corinth— Nonsense, 2yrs, was sold fo? 35gs to Mr D. O'Brien, and the following trotting stock amongst others were also sold : Standard- bred stallion Manabrino Mac, by Berlin —Fanny Bell, at 31gs, to Mr J. Jardin ;.bay mare, by General Tracy— Southern Queen, 4yrs, at 55?=, to Mr D. O'Bnen ; chestnut filly, Itofcignol, i •. M&mbrmo Mac— Jenny Tracy, Syss, at 3Gg?, lo Capti.iu Popbam. A iwo-yeßr-old full sister to Starshot is is. the hands of Murray-Aynsley. She is quite in tUa rough. At a general meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club, held on Saturday evening, the following new members were elected :— Messrs W. F. AllanE. S. Coster, T. S. Johnaton, T. Mawson, T. Dp\v< ling, B\ W, M'Lean, P. Grealey, J. Snodgrass, V t Jofaes, F. de 0. Malet, H. F. Nichol. J. Studholme. milt V. a m&ass> it "wnus, a, m'Fmu«>£ «4

T. Rollitt. At a committee mßeting an interim balance was road, showing the Autumn meeting to have resulted in a substantial net profit. Typhoon is jumping well at Kiccarton, but Is Blow. Australasia is bning tried over the small sticks. Naturally he shapes none too well. Crescent who has recently been tried over hunUes., shaped very well. Ma&az ne U occasionally seen on the tracks. He looks Ws and well. Goldkaf bolted with her boy last week (> but when atopped it vais found she had net injured herself. May 24. The " wet Wrsgge" must have been in his element to-day, for it would be difficult to imagine more atrocious weather than that which was experienced. The rain came down in sheets, and the stewards of the Canterbury Trotting Club seriously debated the advißabienegs of continuing their meeting, but as the threatening rain clouds showed signs of lifting they determined to carry out their programme. However, the rain continued, and the enclosure* and course presented »n appearance akin to a well-tenanted stockyard. Respite the fearful weather there was an enormous attendance, fully 5000 being present, tha huge stand being pacSied. Riders and drivers had an unenviable task in piloting their respective ■tefd*, and it would have been difficult for even mothers 10 recognise some of them — great globes of mud hanging^ from every available sticking point. No doubt the big attendance was largely attiibutable to tbe presence of Fritz, but outiide the champion's performance the sport was well worth witnessing. Captain Popbarn's Young Burlington simply pUyed with the opposition in the Trial Handicap, and won with tbe greatest ease from Johnny 111 and Reply (Mr Buckland's), the latter. breaking and .seem' ingly unable to utilise his long stride in the mud. This made Albough's second win for Captain Popbam, -and visitors were pleased to see the combination of good sport and good tutor successful

The rich Juvenils Stakes appeared to be % really good thing in time for Mr Cro."=san's George M. Patchen, but although the colt trotted evenly and well in his preliminary he could not be persuaded to settle down in the race until it was too late.

The Jinal was won by Plan, who was beaten by a nose by Diieclor in his beat, the southern sportsman's hi. rse finishing second, with Director third. Gentle Child was withdrawn. Plan is the property of Mr Graham Holme?, and although the slake may not have gone to tbe best horse, he is owned by an enthusiastic sportsman. l^itz walked over his oppenaats in the Fiee F<>r All, winning as he liktd, and covering the mile in 2m in 25 4-ssec.

Considering the state of the track, the performaccfl of Mr Buckland'g champion is wonderfully good. Ibe hor»e and owner received a most generous reception, which wan gracefully acknowledged in the usual way. * Monte Carlo also came in for a cheer when he finiifeed second, beating St. Loui« and Raha.

"JDfck" Henry has usually something good when he invades Canterbuiy trotting grounds, and in Bellman he possesses a really fast horse. This iminial had the Victoria Handicap won after the field had traversed a mile ; but although Rarus passed .him, owiDj to a bad slip at the bottom turn, Bellman had too much pace in the ruß home, winning by a length from Barus, Dictator some distance away. Narragansett was withdrawn from the Pony Handicap, which was won by Jessamine, with Lassie second, and Rats third. The penalised Bellman won the Prospective Handicap in the easiest fashion. Imperial and JUillionaire in ,the places. - / Viva, driven by Mr Buckland, accounted for the relefrraph Handicap, pacing through tbc mud in Eand stylo, Hazeldean second, and Stockholm iid .

• .'lhe stewaris held a 'meeting to disonst HazalJewu's running, but adjourned the inquiry. Viva paid the enotmous dividend of JHI7S 18s, tut her owner was not a participator.

Awahuri won the final Handicap (in saddle) easily from Maniac. When going down the back Jjittle Willie, the pacer, driven in hobbles by D. Price, came down heavily. b»th horse and rider being severely shaken. Fritz's gear broke just before he reached the prostrate Little Willie, and Mr Buckland pulled up Thus concluded, despite to-day's unfavourable weather, one of the most successful gatheiings over held in Canterbury.

Mr Buckland has notified his intention of presenting the Canterbury Trotting Club with an enlarged frame photograph of his great horse Fritz.

The xtovvards of the club intend to invite. Mr Suckland to a social gatheriuc before he returns to Sydney, which will be about the end of this month.