NOTES AND COMMENTS

Press, Volume L, Issue 8596, 25 September 1893, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS

BY "HOTSPUR."

If the Asbburton Club did nob come out very well over its Spring Meeting, tho neighbouring institution, with headquarters at Timaru, fared ever *o much worse. The South Canterbury Club was indeed most unfortunate. The elements, if not exactly raging, were disagreeable in the extreme on the first day, and were none too pleasant on the second. For those, therefore, not directly interested, the inducement to take a jaunt to the convincing ground was not enticing Thus it wa* the attendance fell far short of wliaC it would have been under ordinary circumstances, and tho number of country folk in the company formed a very Htnall percentage. A great deal of rain hud fallen during the few days preceding the meeting, and the course being low-lying, the crack was thoroughly soaked and had pools of water lying on irl The ilrst race gave evidence of the nature of the going—it was more than heavy, riding fetlock deep in places. As the proceedings went", on, the cutting up, of course, made the track worse, and the mud-bespattered jockeys were hardly recognisable when weighing in. Form was to a great extent upset by the condition of things, so that too much store need not be set on the performances of the different animals. Mark Topley used to bay that ib was no credit for a man to be cheerful under ordinary circumstances, but it has to be recorded that the depressing surroundings had no effect on the urbanity of the South Canterbury officials, who, headed by tho secretary, did their utmost to make tho gathering as ploasanb as possible. With diminished revenue from nearly every source and augmented prizemoney, it goes without saying that the club made a heavy loss last week. The deficiency that will have to be faced must amount to between £300 and £400. and this is a serious matter for our South Canterbury friends. The falling off in revenue from the totalisator was very marked. On the first day of last season's Spring Meeting £1517 was put through, aud on the second £1465, making a total of £2982. This year the figures read £1095 and £885, total £1980. The tax, too, lias to be taken out of the sum accruing to the club. Dealing with losses, however, is almost as unpleasant as making them, and I can only say thatsportsmen generally will regret the reverse the club has received. Invader, once having Rob his head in front, is now doing his owner good service. Making every post a winning post he had only Jacob Faithful to make a finish of it with him in the Hurdle Race on tho first day and won cleverly at the finish. Pursuing the same tactics he again prevailed on the second day, proving himself to be a regular mudlark. Jacob Faithful looked like winning at the distance on the flrafc day, but tired to nothing inside the distance. It was his big jumping, I tako it, that beat him, and when he ceases to make such efforts as he now does and on good going, he should prove a useful horse. He cut himself duiinor the race and was an absentee when Smuggler attended Invader home. No excuse can bo offered for Smuggler's failure, the winner fairly beating him in the run to the chair. Empire looked well, but did not seem to relish the' mud, and most of those that took part in the hurdle races were undoubtedly hampered by the going. The only fall that occurred, however, was on the second day when Rebel came down, luckily bath horse and rider escaping uninjured. ~The Steeplechases, which were run over a line of country much the same as was flagged out for the Grand National when the cross-country blue riband was periodically run for at Timaru, proved poor contests. Matariki, who on the strength of his Ashburton successes was made the pot for the Hunt Club Cup, was beaten before a mile had been gone and, although he struggled on to tho last fence, his chancu looked a poor one after he had a lot of the steam knocked out of him by hitting the post aud rails near the cop turn of the course proper on the first round. But then only one other had a better show, that one being Bell Bird, who took the lead at flag fall and who, fencing in fine style, was being ridden a waiting race in front. Bell Bird's pilot was Mr B. Wynn"Williams, and it was only la9t week I had occasion to compliment that young gentleman on the progress he was making as a horseman. Holding a strong advantage nearly the whole of the journey, Bell Bird made no mistakes and had pulled up bei fore Pastime had crossed the last fence, at which Matariki, after refusing twice, was not forced. The steeplechase on the second day was virtually a walk over for Bell Bird. Dawdling ou the way in order that his stable companion, Mount Cook, might be with him, he occupied some seventeen minutes in doing the two miles. The other was not persevered with after crossing the second double, Bell Bird, despite having unshipped hie rider at the post and rails, being home by the time he had got thus far. Prior to taking part in the Hunt Cup, it should be remembered that Matariki won the Ladies' Bracelet, and if the victory was very easily accora plitshed it may have taken something out of him.

The three for which final payment wae made in opposition to Skirmisher Iα the Guineas found their way to the post; and there were many who expected the Vanguard coit to have to strike his colours. This expectation was based, so £ learnt, on the report that Dilemma was better than the three-year-old on the training track, and Dilemma had signally failed at the Forbury on the previous Saturday. The reasoning was right enough, but the premises on which It was foauded must have been wofully astray. But as Skirmisher, if not wound up, had the appearance of having done lots of work, followers of form were not led astray by the presages of defeat, and so he was an odds-on favourite, though not so good a favourite as he should have been. Casually observed, the colt did not seem to have grown much.since the autumn, but as he has thickened out considerably, his increased stature was not noticeable, and r standing alongside him. he Impresses one as being big enough for anything—and a weight-carrier to boot. The Ashburton candidate, Errington, is a slashing-fine youngster, and if Mr Brown succeeds in getting him really fit, he should win a good race, for he is evidently possessed of the same courage as his brother, "Warrington. Gerainfc has grown upwards very little, during the recce*, and will always ' be a pony. He was perhaps the fittest of the quartette, being full of muecle. Busybody looked well, but the weight was voted a bit burdensome for her, a mile, too, being considered somewhat beyond her compass. The race was never in doubt, for Skirmisher taking command on the outset held his opponents In check the whole way and won, it might be said, in a canter. At the distance Errington made a run, but the favourite, who was easing down, had only to be shaken up to come away again. Hβ really made hacks of bis opponents, and as proof has been given of his retention of form, the Guineas winner mast be accounted as having an excellent chance of appro- ! priating the C.J.CX Derby,for which event, I am given to understand. Skirmisher will be specially prepared. _ . Liberator farther emphasised his usefulness by carrying off the chief prize of the meeting. No doubt the heavy going assisted him to victory, for If the galloping had been on the top of the ground the i runner-up, Lady Zetland, would, in the opinion of the great majority of those who witnessed the struggle, have prevailed. There cannot be a doubt that on a* slushy course a horse in the lead showering mud on those in hia wake obtains a great advantage. Many horses dislike facing a heavy shower of rain, and it stands to reason their objection Is carried also to having the top dressing of a wet course thrown in their eyes and mouth. Derrett was quick to discern this, and rode Liberator for the leading berth directly the signal to go was given, and in the van the old horse remained right through. He and Lady Zetland had the finish all to themselves; both were ridden right out, the old horse sticking to his work right

s gamely and sustaining hh advnntea. * * the end. Captive went out i but ran in the moat disapnolnf „ • ; way, being done with before the ~* i post wan reached. Tim brother to Hvl ! dom looked in great buckh>; he w«e Ku" ! but. big with musclo, anil is now qtjhft * ! handsome horn*. Ho evidently did L* j r«H«l» the deep going, which, too, wm.iJ ■ r.gainsf. Clanraitaltl, who, If a litllo ah o «I I himself, was the aristocrat of tho nari I Wiu'riugton broko out in n heavy nwp*f ' while being saddled up, and looked dm I with before the race eornmuueed, K»"oryono regret.tod tlu mUtafep 11..L occurred in the start for tho Flvlug Ilanrtf I ti cap, which undoubtedly lost Mr J. H* r ,i 1 thu fruits of victory. Tin* barter wh i dooi not study the ract> card, inviiilneS I the event was run over <tx furiouutsi nnrt I was dumbfounded when, on returnln *■ to tho enclosure, h« was told !t w » a seven furlong nice. The meeting I was tho llr.it at Tint'iru at which \! $ Powell has .started, and ho was umoUuut H out over tho occurronet , . Busybody j!: % side* being well ahead of RoiouiU' »&, ; : gotnu better than anything at the finish n* i? Ihn six furlong* flutter, and would aDiur entlyhavorun hmne nuito easily overt* * extra furlong. She wiis, however, ui'iaUU f to make alight of it with Uosehill | n th» * now r.ice. Mr H.trvis had supported hli I flllv to win him n Rood wtuke and It «1: & particularly unfortunate tor him. Parimn cut a poor llgun; on b ith ennui I and Mr Goodman cmnot have any gfl!l I regret that he has parted with sticli I 1 fraud. " 1 For tho chief event on \\u>. second d&v | the following was the handicap :~ ' i Prime Wimton ... 9 6 Wurrinjtou 7 « l CUnraniUd ... !» f< lUitiiia ... "it i Saraaon ... ... 3 M !!,>«,hill .. ~71 i Liberitor ... 8 10 (iit.uv,* ... .. 7 « I L»dy Zetland ... S 0 A.tv.trriu Kino .. 6]j I An Kovoir ... f 1" (I'.rtiitr, ... n<l ! Skirmisher ... 7l> Uui.vl>j<ly |" «{! ! Ciptivo ... ... 7 5 My Jac*,., ... 0 7 j Only three went to the post; An j ! really a full acceptance could lintd|» ! ba expected, for Skinnlsher seem i ingly barred the way. Mr D.nvsi" let lutiie i Guineas' winner at U-ast 71b too JisxUt, and I even with such additional impost; hu would ' have been, to my mintl, the pick of the $ handicap. Mr Held, however, would not '<■ risk running his colt in tho mud and *i> the ' race was left to Lady Zetland, Au Itn'olf > and Busybody, of whom tho laatWiued i was rightly considered to hnvo no mHow, I The battle between tho other pair proved to ! be the most interesting iteminthotwotUjß , sport. A couple of downright g.\ine mm > they are, and although in the groat struggle the colt had to Mtrikt , hit haiuitr > to the mare, there was very littlo between I them, and the conqueror and conquered ! alike added to their fume. At v mile »nfl '. a quarter Lady Zetland is hard to bent ' but experience goes to show that thodh! I tanco is just about the length ot the tether 1 of tho daughter of Porkin Wnrbeck It, § Clubs such ah the South Cuntei bury and f Ashburtou would bo consulting their best iuterests by doing away with district races; tho more so for tho reason that In the confines of the district* an defined b? the rules of these clubs there are trained Home of the best horses in tho land,! nod tho presumable object of giving the local "hack*" something to go for h not attained. Besides, if free to all, hnud|. capping should bring about equality. This is not to cay that thu district events are not interesting, but intercut would it heightened and the character of the anorfe perhaps improved if tho Klccarton nud Forbury trained horses could compete in nil thoevents. Tho flrstofthodhtrlctmceitell to Kilmarnock but those behind tha eon of Cheviot were rather a poor lot, Hβ i was well supported for tho Gladstone Handicap ou the second day; HosohlU and company were, howover, much 100 good for him. Iv tho Members'Platettie outsider. Beach, secured the verdict aflier a good tusslo with Freeborn, an own brother to the Grand National winuer, Freeman, to whom ho bears a resemblance, the favourite, Jack, having to be content with third place. For a couple of tho dhtrlct event* no acceptance was requlaite, which I take to be a mistake. Even ehould no money ba required to pass, it is desirable to know the intentions of ownern so that the race card need uos be encumbered with thi nnmes of horses not ovoti brought to the meeting. Nineteen horsoH weru Included in tho lint for tho County Plate, out o< which eight went to tho post; nine took part in the Members' Plato out ot twenty figuring on tho list. Wβ had n eight of Primo Warden Iα the Final Handicap, in which he waa flattered by receiving Oat 101b to carry. The Cup | horse is looking big and well. Intherncg s> ho came with a good run from the die. § tanco, but failed to flnl«U in the flrei | three, the {avourlto, Warrhtgton, ha?lnßa 4 Bomewhat easy task In getting hoini , . " Cuptlvo carao fast insldo tho distance, anJ -} secured second place from Busybody. r Several rldere at tho South Canterbury J } , meeting Informed mc thafc petty larceny | from the jockeys' room was fraquenfc. It A would seem that clotheo lott about would | bo ransacked, and any stray coin* loft Id ! the pockets pilfered ; aud in one or two instances garments wero taken. It h a great pity some of theoe racecourse thieves ! were not caught and made an emmplo of, for at every meeting: whero jockoye have no means of looking up their belonging* thieving goes on. Borrowed pluraee wore much in evidence last week at South Canterbury, aud tlu mieut of breeches and boote on rIiJ?M made it apparent that ono set of pcaar Uα to do duty for several wearers. One watt was hoard to remark that from the loußtti • of his rider's boots Clunranald muit iiuve ] supposed himself to bo In shafts, ; Tho numbeiof double buccossim eouthern hunters have been achieving this acaeonls very remarkable. Robin had his innings at the Grand National Meeting, Maturlfcl had his at Aehburton, Justice camo out X tho Forbury, while Bell Bird and Invader, the ono over big and the other over sißftH fences, each earned a couplo of bracket"* South Canterbury. To supplement twi Hat by horsea outside tho hunting rank*, ; the dual victory of Liberator in tho hurdle races at the Grand National, und DU« ; Hawk winning two 'chases at Amberley ; can bo pointed to. Tho proaooti woulti i apparently, eeem to be a aeaeou for jumplug doubles. . , .. w Geraldlne weights appeared laefc wesfc Many people will not have Liberator as • ; good one, but he keopa on winning, eao j as quite earned the impost given him Iβ , the Cup. Hβ is not, however, within 1 •Hμ of Prime Warden wero tho top welgiitltt more forward condition than he l«, au«.*» it is, if tho eon of Apremonfc is s*nt for Wβ prize, the ono that beafce him wlllHlwJ win. On good going I would take Lw Zetland to bo more than a match i« Liberator at Olbs difference, albolt we Geraldine scale of weights ie Rgalusfcthe littlo mara, who, however, i* In «{)lon£ha racing trim. Galtee Iβ let in very H«M> he is, perhaps, too uncertain to trust, one Frivolity is hardly forward enough to w seen to advantage. Kllraarnock Iβ out M hie cla99 with those above him In W« handicap. For Specton I havo a refcftW ■with his light Impoet, iind he may tnamt Mr Hobba , representative at the flnlso. Victim and Coinage, on recent ru«n »X« have no show. I would take rflme Warden, Lady Zetland, and Specton w supply the winner. ... M Kfltte Greenawtty and Jacob Faltbfe* commend tnomeelvee to mo ac tlie «» treated in the Squatters , Handicap. «aa the mare alao reade well iv the eWf* Handicap, In which I would tako the J* tellable Galtoe to poesean an exceUW chance. Kilmarnock Iβ partial to u«*v burden*, and should have a say In wfciui ever Welter he is saddled up for; "» district eVent is the one I should cl*ms« for him. It was In this event tlifct *»• King surprised everyone laefc yoar pf ""; nlug home in front of a good Held *»■ quite unsupported. The betrayer geW|W theu carried Bst 3lb, and he h»n the same weight this time. Fire King w* not raced tecently, but if brought to "» po3fc in good order must be a<" coant S? ft ij huve a chance of repentlnu his preview performance. Jack, by hh r« n " ln *,*j South Canterbury, convinced mc he eg not like big burdens, and the three ot \ weights should bavo the Optm Welter eon / test between them.