CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2362, 1 June 1899, Page 37

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

"v W. Ouk-a.

Considering the unattractive nature of the weather on Queen's Birthday it speaks volumes for the popularity of first-class trotting when it could draw such a large attendance on the second day of the Canterbury Trotting Club's Winter meeting at the show grounds. A few slight showers fell during the afternoon, but underfoot it was not nearly so iinpleasant as might reasonably have been anticipated. Tho track, however, had suffered considerably from the heavy downfall of the two preceding days, some of the bespattered riders and drivers being almost blinded with the mud. Fast times were naturally out of the question, but under the circumstances some of the performances were particularly meritorious. The meeting was capitally conducted, the whole of the officials ably assisting to this end. Mr C. O'Connor was not assisted by the starting clock after the first few races, but he succeeded in despatching the large fields fairly well. The totalisator investments showed a material advance on tho amount put throtigh the machines at the corresponding meeting last year. The Kentucky horse St. Lawrence gradually drew away from his opponents in the Trial Handicap, tho favourites Moonbeam and Sue Dudley evidently being considerably hampered with the heavy going. The last-named went well for a couple of laps, bat from this out Ricketty was the only one near the leader, and when he died away over the last round St. Lawrence easily distanced the field.

Valiant was only opposed by Lynbrook in the final heat of the Juvenile Stakes, but the event was easily taken by Mr J. A. Buckland's fine colt, who distanced his solitary opponent, and covered the mile in 2m in 50 3-ssec, a record full of merit, considering the nature of the track. Valiant was subsequently led on to the lawn in front of the stand, where he was decorated with the " red ribbon " by Mrs Man, wife of the president. Cheers were given for the owner, trainer, and horse. C. Piper, who drove the colt, intended if the tracV had been suitable to try and establish a z\:cord, but this was impossible; but the time registered by the colt on the first day is not likely to be seriously lowered, if it is equalled, for many a long day. Lynbrook had no chance whatever with Valiant, and it is quite safe to assert that no finer colt has ever graced any track. One of the curiosities of racing wfcj well shown when Valiant, in a field of two, paid £1 16s. There was only £30 10s invested on the totalisators, yet £16 of this was on Valiant. There seems to be some ground for the belief that someone worked a very pretty coup on this race. Bookmakers at a distance had no objection to lay totalisator prices on such a good thing, naturally believing that Mr Buckland's salt would pay. about £1 1b or even, less fox

every £ invested. Local bookmakers laid heavily against the colt, under the same belief. Someone put £10 on Lynbrook, making him favourite, and local pencillers did not discover the game until it was too late. Then, as they were not allowed on the ground, they sent a cabman post haste with £10 to put on Valiant, but the emissary got to the ground just in time to see the race finished. Betting men on the ground scarcely gave a thought to backing either horse, seeing that the race was a gift to Valiant, and great surprise was expressed when the dividend was declared. The bookmakers lose heavily over the race, one laying nearly 100 chances about the winner. A capital field went out for the Victoria Handicap (in saddle), Bellman being a pronounced favourite. However, he was slow to move, and although he settled down to a capital gait subsequently, Dictator,, who trotted steadily throughout was then too far ahead. Miss Brownwood shaped extremely well, but she was evidently hampered by the heavy going. Dictator trotted home an easy winner in the good time, considering the course, of smin 19sec, and paid a substantial dividend. Collector waa the only withdrawal from the Birthday Handicap, two miles, lOsec limit. The field was made up of Wildwood scr, Monte Carlo lsec, Vickery 2sec, Prince Imperial 4sec, Jessie Palm 6sec, Cling 6sec, Harold B 7sec, Utah 9sec, Sam Slick 9sec, Lauderdale 9se. The Baron lOsec, Motuiti lOsec, and Val lOsec. Prince Imperial was a slightly better favourite than Wildwood, Lauderdale, and Val. Wildwood obtained a flying start, but he lost some few seconds at the post. Motuiti got well away, but Val was with her at the quarter, but breaking badly allowed the mare to go on in front of The Baron, the latter securing the lead at the half mile, Vickery, who had covered the four furlongs at a tremendous pace, closely pressing Motuiti. Wildwood appeared to be blocked several times, and covered, a lot of ground through running out so wide; still he was gradually breaking down his handicap, and when a mile and a half had been covered ho had disposed of everything but The Baron and Vickery. Going down the back stretch Vickery ranged alongside The Baron, who immediately gave way, and running round the bottom turn the former was a few lengths to the good of The "Baron and Wildwood. The latter quickly passed the Baron, and appeared as though he might defeat the leader, but when M. Edwarda shook her up she came away and won a clinking race by almost two lengths, with The Baron third, pulling up in front of Cling. Vickery was well handled, as her pilot kept her on the inside of the track whenever possible, where she was pacing through slush, which immediately ran off herself and sulky, whereas Wildwood was kept on the outside the wholo way, a position he could not avoid for two-thirds of Ihe distance, where the going was holding, the horse sending great clods of mud flying behind him. The outside portion of the track was certainly the heaviest, and whilst I have nothing but praise to give to the winner and her driver, Wildwood was decidedly unfortunate in being obliged to cover so much ground. Vickery is one of the most consistent animals that ever looked through a bridle. She won at Ohoka the first time she started, and though she was defeated by Tbe Baron at the show grounds over two, miles she has since won at Lancaster Park, besides being second to Motuiti at the same place and second to Cling at the show grounds last week. For her inches she is a wonder, and it was a treat to see her pacing and staying out the journey through thy slush and mud. On the whole, Wildwood h«s been distinctly unlucky, but if he keeps sound and is given a chance on a bigger course, he will yet make amends for his many disappointments. The only way to obtain Wildwood's best time performance is to send him away to «, flying start. There are many who now assert that Vickery is his equal, but whereas she ia a wonder off the mark, Wildwood is somewhat slow to begin. From a flying start the bit? horsevshould defeat Vickery. but from a, standing one she might ret right away in the first quarter. The Pony Race was a sorry spectacle, Little Harold, the winner, tiring to nothing over the last half mile, but his opponents were in just as bad a plight, as can be gathered from the time registered — 6min 29sec. Cordelia and Hen-I-No filled the respective places. Tn the Spreydon Handicap Thelma went right away from her opponents, Lexington being unable to get within striking distance of her. Thp remainder of the field never had the slightess chance Youn? Burlington secured the Telegraph Handicap with the greatest ease by eierht lengths from Baltimore and 19 others, while Comua defeated almost as laree a field in the Final Handicap iust aa he liked. Satan running second and The Baron almost distanced, third.

M. Edwards hnd the honour of riding and driving the winners of the two principal handicaps at tho show grounds on Wednesday. The trotting mare Kenny was offered for sale on Saturday, but the bidding failed to reach her owner's reserve.

Leopold, by Rothschild from an Emerson mare, was passed in at Tattersall's on Saturday. Regent, an Imperious two-year-old, and a Rothschild colt out of an Emerson mare did not change hands when offered to auction. Fanny Bell, dam of Tracy Belle, in foal to Rpthschild, ought to prove a bargain to her purchaser at £15. The Christchurch Racing Club's Autumn fixture resulted in a loss of £5. Rhoderick Dh\i was sold for £9 on Saturday.

Beggarman and Cornwall is, offered for sale on. Saturday at TattersalPa, failed to changs hands.

St. Julian, one of the team recently brought over from Australia by C. Piper, was sold on Saturday at a fair figure. The Canterbury Trotting Club's profit over its Autumn meeting will amount tq about £150. Val. brought over from Sydney with Mr J. A. Buckland's tram, has been sold for £100, and the son of Vancleve is now an inmate of M. Edward's stable.

Consequent on Vickery winningr the Birthday Handicap on the second day of the Canterbury Trotting Club's Winter meeting, in which event Wildwood finished second, there has been some talk of a match being arranged between the pair, for any stake up to £500, over a mile. The parties behind the pony desire a standing start, while Wildwood's people prefer a flying start. Such a contest would create a great deal of interest, though matches, as a rule, do not tend to benefit the sport. Qui Vive, by Berlin, with foal at foot by Rothschild, wa.= passed in on Saturday. C. Pippr will probably ship Mr Buckland's team of horses to Sydney to-morrow.

The Lancaster Park Club is making every effort to hasten tho construction of the necessary buildings at its new ground on the Lincoln toad. Plans are already being drawn for the work.

Tho committee of the Canterbury Trotting Club will probably discuss on Wednesday next the advisablerress of- joining the Lancaster Park Club in the occupation of the new ground recently obtained by the last-named body

Though the totalisator returns on the second day of the Canterbury Trotting Club's Winter meeting were considerably in excess of those on the corresponding day of a year previous, the gate receipts were rather less.

The sum of £1337 was put through the totalisators on the Victoria Handicap at the show grounds on Wednesday last. This is the largest amount ever invested in any one trotting lace in the colony. The Birthday Handicap, at the same meeting, drew £1209 10s, while no less than £1042 was invested in the totalisators on the Spreydon Handicap.

I Medicus is shaping fairly well over ? ,^e srnal, sticks at Eicearton.

Backers here were particularly anx'ous ttf support The Joker and Bradlaugh iii th< Queen's and Dash Handicaps respectiveJy on the second day of the Tahuna Park meeting. In? fact, several of the pencillers shut down on the order.

Dan O'Brien has sold Heritage to H. Telforcl. Probably he would just as willingly part with; other disappointments.

A rising two-year-old filly by Imperious front Peggy was recently named by a well-known lady trotting enthusiast " White Stockings*"The mare's subsequent foal by Dictator has been dubbed " Socks."

Freeborn, the brother to Freeman, well known in Canterbury, is now owned by Mr Parkinson, of Kaituna.

The two-year-old gelding by Lakeshell — Miss Webster has been named " Oyster." At a meeting of the stewards of the Christchurch Racing Club on Monday, a letter waa read from C. Stratford, who was disqualified for two years for improper conduct to the president and clerk of the scales at the Autumn meeting of the club at New Brighton on Wednesday last, apologising for his conduct. Stratford attended the meeting, and personally expressed! his regret. After a long discussion, the stewards decided to revise their previous" decision, and to disqualify Stratford during the pleasure of the club. Although this decision may not curtail the sentence, the alteration indicates thatthe stewards viewed the original decision as" somewhat harsh.

May 30. Mr Stead informs me that he does not intend to nominate either Screw Gun, Tolstoi, or Courtier for the New Zealand Cup.