THE CANTERBURY T.C.'S MAY MEETING.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9434, 4 June 1896, Page 2

THE CANTERBURY T.C.'S MAY MEETING.

[By Spectator.]

This club—undoubtedly one of the best conducted in the colony—experienced excellent weather for their two days' meeting, which commenced on Thursday and was concluded on Monday. The details of the trotting will be found in another place. Suffice it for mc to comment thereon.

Mist, Coral and Tonic were those most supported in the Pony Handicap. Of these Tonic got interfered with early in the race and any chance he possessed was thus destroyed, aud Coral, soon tired of chasing Empire, was eased up. Mist, however, was driven hard to make up her ground, and, though she rubbed a lot of her handicap off, never had a chance with Empire, who paid a big dividend. He went out almost unbacked by his owner and driver, who handled him in a high wheeled sulky. The pony showed a lot of improvement upon all previous form, and so did Mist.

The first heat of the Juvenile Stakes saw six at the post. There was room, but nothing to spare, on the track for the six sulkies, and when they started, King Harold, the pole colt, shot out and got clear of the others. Miss Emerson, Garry Owen and Lady Lincoln blocking the way of Dictator and Whroo, who came out of the entanglement some thirty yards to the bad. King Harold, however, broke when showing a good dash of pace, while Dictator and Whroo closed on him. Breaking again in the first half-mile Dictator got level, and in the second lap led King Harold, who, again leaving his feet, only saved his" distance with a half sulky length to spare. Whroo, who was trotting steadily, broke her head-gear and was shut out about twenty-five yards. The others were pulled up. As I anticipated, this proved the fastest heat, but the time only conveys a rough idea of what Dictator, King Harold and Whroo can do. Each one of these has shown better time in private.

Imperial had a very easy win, and did not require to do time he can accomplish to win the second heat, in which Peak, a pacer, might have stretched him out to a greater extent had he not several times become un" gaited. Annie Rooney, Collector, and St. Lawrence all showed up badly. General Standish would, I think, have had to strike his colours to Bendigo iv the the third heat had not the latter overreached twice, which caused him to forfeit his place, and just miss getting within the distance. Bendigo was a hot favourite and General Standish an outsider, who paid the nice dividend of £12 6s.

The successes of the sons of Imperious in their respective heats on the first day was favourably commented on by the public and breeders, and most people must have noticed a good deal of the even style which characterised the gait of their sire. These are the only two-year-olds by Imperious in Canterbury, and werebroughtfrom Auckland asyearlings. . For style, if not for size, King Harold captivated the people, and he will I think make a very fine goer. He and Imperial have both suffered from influenza, and neither was seen at their best. Bendigo will trot well too, but I shall expect to see Whroo one of the best of stayers, though as a rule the Berlins are gifted more with .speed than staying. General Tracy's only representative is a long strider that takes after his sire in style of action, and Peak follows on the lines of Berlin-Abdallah, hi g sire, pacing being his gait. Brooklet, by Brooklyn, was handicapped by having to pull in his sulky a heavy weight, Mr Marr driving his favourite himself. The Lincoln Yets, of which there were four starters, did not show to advantage, and Tracy Belle's performance was somewhat disappointing. However, they were all more or less green, and trainers will find that they must devote a deal of time to the education of their youngsters if wanted to race early.

Before the Sires' Handicap was run General Tracy was withdrawn in consequence of the absence of his trainer and driver, Starr, who met with an accident on the day previous while driving another horse in town. This left four to compete, and so great a run was made upon Young Irvington that he was backed for £4 more money in the totalisator than Brooklyn, whose favourable treatment I pointed out when the handicaps appeared. Brooklyn was fit, which is more than can be said about any of the others. Specification was very lame, and Young Irvington was somewhat over done. Electioneer looked well, and he and the winner were the only two to show improvement upon previous form. Brooklyn trotted his first mile in 2min oOsec, having gained his handicap of 4sec on Electioneer before getting to the end of the first six foriongs. Electioneer was somewhat retarded owing to over-reaching in the first quarter and trotting over a circuit with a loose boot attached. He, however, trotted his first mile in 2min 35sec and maintained his pace for another half lap, when he slowed down, and Brooklyn drew further and further away, trotting well within himself and finishing up the two miles in smia Bsec. Electioneer took 17sec longer,

while Young Irvington occupied within half a second of the same time as Electioneer. Specification was probably not fit to trot within 15seo of his previous time, though he was not persevered with excepting down the back stretch, when he showedone fairly fast run. On the actual time done Brooklyn showed 9scc better over the two miles than he did at three years old on the Plumpton course, while Electioneer showed 4£sec better than he did last year on the same ground. On previous times, however, Electioneer was handicapped 12-sec bad through the winner, and Mr Brinkman must have.oeen convinced by Brooklyn's exhibition that he underestimated the capability of Mr Mace's horse, allowing nothing for him to improve in. two years. On Thursday last none of the stallions that competed at the meeting could have taken him on and beaten him from the same mark. In the Winter Handicap Rita treated the spectators to a fine exhibition of trotting, and this little mare seems to get round small tracks in rare style. I have seen her trot a mile faster on a big track, though she did go to the end of the first half in lmin 13sec and cover the mile in - 2min 26_sec. When Yum Yum won over the same course I timed : her to do 2m in 25£ sec, and that performance equalled what I have seen Rita do at Riccarton. Rita's mile and a half in 3min i 41sec is the best I have yet seen done in the colony, and if she had not broken up three time 3 during the two mile run and eased up from the distance home, she would have beaten her time done at Lancaster Park, viz. 4min 58i_ec. As it was, she was half a second longer than that. Now here we have consistent form. Lady May, the winner, is another of the consistent order. Over twelve months ago she gave us a taste of her quality in heavy going, and she has steadily improved since that time. She was handicapped as a 5.33 mare and did 5.26_. Jeanette, who finished second, was handicapped as a 5.37 mare and did 5.00|. The owner of a good one like Rita always has to take the chance of meeting improved horses. Neither Boston Girl nor Georgina was equal to doing what they have done before in public, and neither Sam nor Lugnaquilla trotted up to form they were expected by the handicapper to be capable of. Indeed, Lugnaquilla would not have been brought to Chi-istchureh had his owner seen the handicaps before leaving Dunedin. Invictus trotted very badly. Had he repeated what he has done on occasions he would not have been a long way behind the winner. I am sure Rita cannot give this horse so long a start as 20sec when he is himself, but still he was sore and did not show up. It was a splendidracebetweenJeanetteandLadyMay, and when both broke within the distance it was a t033 up as to which would score, the latter, however, coming out ahead.

The Addington Handicap was the race of the meeting, and the weight of money behind Prince Imperial and Albert Victor soon made it apparent that the pair had shown their connections something good. They started out so equally backed, that there was but ten shillings difference in the machine money invested on each, and the pair carried £532 10s between them. Nothing was backed for so much money at the meeting as this pair of stallions, and the race between them was one which aroused the enthusiasm of the people. At the end of the first mile, which Albarb Victor coverol in 2.37, Prince Impsrial had gained nearly 33303, and at tho end of a mile and a-half they were together, and thence out Prince Impsrial had only to be kept going at his top gait to win by five or six lengths, the time registered by each horse being — Prince Imperial 5,15 j. Albert-Victor 5.22. A truepi race between two horses was never trotted on the course, and here we have some idea of the diminution of speed in a second mile in a race severely contested for the first half of the journey. Prince Impsrial covered his first mile in and his second in 2.40£ ; Albert Victor took 2.37 for his first mile, and 2.45 for his second. There are not many horses when trotting below a 2.40 gait that can sustain their speed a second mile, and fewer that caa trot a first mile in 2.35 and a second one at a similar rate of speed. Now, both these horse 3 were handicapped to do better than they had ever done before, and nothing eke had a chance with them. Pastime, whose best time is 5.7, would have had to do 4.53, winch is beyond him. Prince Victor would have had to do 5.13, which is ssec better than- his best time, and Sacramento 5.19, which is over 30sec better than his winning time, and twenty better than he showed in the race. Mambrino Abdallah would have had to better his be3t previous performance by 14sec, and all the other horses also would have had to show much improved form. Oppo3um finished third bub outside the distance, and Sacramento, driven right out, was 200 yds away.

The track was in splendid order for the second day of the meeting, which was continued on Monday under the most favourable circumstances, and there were some brilliant exhibitions of speed and notable performances over long distances. As showing the absurdity of .giving away such long starts it must be pointed out that Mesmerist, the winner of the Maiden Saddle Race, had been given 28sec start of La Rue, who has never won a race, and who to have been with the winner would have - required to trot the two miles in 20sec better time than he has done previously ; indeed, he would have had to have gone near doing within a few seconds of the best two mile performance of the meeting. Pride of Kilkenny also put up a performance a long way better than anything sho has ever accomplished previously, and Speculation, Transit Royal and Ruahine each showed form too good for any 5.30 horse to give such long starts to, and I am sure there were others that did not show up so well as those mentioned that; would only have to be well to beat from their handicap marks any such performer as La Rue.

The Juvenile Stakes produced an excellent race between three of the five starters. Peak, the pacer, travelled faster than in his first heat on the opening day, and Imperial, who beat him, made no sort of show with Mr Mace's gelding. It was left to the other Imperious colt to try conclusions, and he asserted himself when called upon and wore down Peak at the finish. King Harold, however, showed the possession of most pace in the early part of the race and was travelling best in the" last half, mile, but he went very unsteadily in parts. - General Standish, driven by Starr, did not show to such advantage as when handled by the lighter weight, Price, on the first day. It was a satisfactory termination of the race to see three of the youngsters finish within the distance. And it was a noticeable feature that two heat winners of the first day had to give place to two that had then finished in secondary positions.

The Queen's Handicap, in saddle, of two miles, was a really excellent race between four horses. Paulina soon headed Lady May, Prince, and Sam, the latter leaving his mark very badly. Hampton smashed up soon after the start, and though Victor and Prince Albert stuck steadily to their work, Paulina drew to the front followed by Pansy 8., Monte Carlo and Spider, Rita also showing a great dash of pace. Monte Carlo, at the end of half a mile had headed Pansy 8., and after traveling a mile and a half got past Paulina, Pansy B. being then third cloac tip. In this order they ran till reaching the distance.

after entering which Spider passed Pansy B. and took third place. Monte Carlo registered 5.12 (private watches made it 5.10), Paulina 5.17, Spider 5.10, and Pansy B. 5.18. Rita, who covered the first mile in 2.27, broke up badly and was then eased up. Sam Slick distanced his field in the Maiden Harness, AUerton and North Star being nearest him at the finish. The winner registered much better time than Mist and Norbell who were furthest back in the handicap.

If the Maiden and pony races were run away affairs the chief harness race was more so, as nothing ever had a chance with Astot,who covered the three miles in Smin 12JtSeo. Brooklyn finished second and Rita 2sees behind him, third, Rnadan, about 3secs behind Rita, fourth. Now, Brooklyn, who put up the sterling performance of 7.40£,. would have had to have done about 12sec better to have been near the winner, while Rita, who actually lowered Specification's three mile record of 7.35£ by 2sec, would have required to do 7.20£ or thereabouts to have been on terms, that is allowing that Ascot could travel no faster, and as this horse traversed the whole distance without skip or break, it will be understood what a heart breaking task Mr Brinkman set the good horses. Sacramento, notwithstanding his long start, was passed first by Ascot and then in succession by the other starters. Little Bon pulled very hard at the start, but was lame and unsteady, and though Ruadan registered better time than he has ever done, he was passed nearly half a mile from home by the tiring Brooklyn, and at the final bend by Rita. " But as before stated, Ascot. won with a wide margin to spare, a very unsatisfactory termination to the big race. However, the redeeming feature was the fact that the race was trotted right out to the bitter end by the two horses furthest back in the handicap, the spectators thus getting a view of some of the finest trotting seen on the course. Brooklyn's first two miles in 54£ and Rita's three miles in 7.33s —her last mile in 2.31_ —were the two best performances ever done in a three mile race in the colonies.

Following this event came the Telegraph Handicap mile saddle race, which Avon won from end to end in 2.49, Spider, 2.32, finishing second, aud the penalised Monte Carlo, 2.34, third. A protest entered against Avon for inconsistent running on the previous day wasxipheld and the stakes awarded to Spider, Monte Carlo being placed second, Miss Poole trotted fast for two furlongs, but failed to trot to her previous time or she would have been between the two placed ones at the finish. A break or two makes all the difference in these mileevents, Avon's owner and rider, under circumstances within my knowledge, appear to have been very hardly dealt with in being deprived of this stake. Avon's performances were inconsistent one .with the other, but there wore plenty of witnesses of the fact that he would not settle down and trot in the first race in which he started, and moreover the rider, owner and friends backed the gelding in his first attempt and practically left him alone in the second. i

Immediately after this event Kentucky Maud ran right away with the final event, winning easily in 2.47. Hazeldean {who galloped), Berlin Maid, and General Tracy finished all of a bunch for second place, the General covering the mile in 2.39£, the last half being traversed in lmin ISsec, showing that this horse still retains his pace. He trotted in faultless style, and it is a pity that he was not seen out on the first day amongst the other stud horses. A protest against Kentucky Maud for inconsistent running was'dismissed. Had this mare trotted at the same ratet of speed in. rape on t>_e ih~tHe^fead of Albert Victor and Prince Imperial at the end Of the first mile, but she had dropped out before going so far and • trotted unsteadily.. Without any suggestion that she was hot driven to win on the first day, there is no doubt that her performance on the second day was inconsistent with her showing on the second, and the public, after Avon's disqualification, were quite prepared to see Kentucky Maud disqualified also. It must be [mentioned that only two horses in the colonies have ever trotted a mile in public at a rate of speed fast enough to have won the race under notice from the scratch mark.

I shall deal further with this meeting again. The result of the trotting generally goes to show that class trotting can now be established if the clubs will encourage it, and the fact that such enormous profits can be made over a trotting meeting as has been the case over the two days' fixture just decided, is proof conclusive that the Canterbury Trotting Club is one that can well afford to make the experiment, with but little risk of failure. Now that ample stand accommodation has been provided, the public will turn out in still greater foi-ce, and with careful management the club need have no fear for the success of the sport.

Cricket, who won the Pony Race in harness, trotted the two miles in 5.51, and Coral, who was second, was timed to do 5.49. These ponies were handicapped to receive 44sec and 38sec respectively from -Fantasy, perhaps the best pony in New Zealand. To have had any chance this mare would have had to trot two miles faster than any of the cracks accomplished the distance in saddle during the day. These long starts even in pony races are a mistake. There should be a limit. Cricket, the winner, was objected to on the ground that she had trotted in the name of Barmaid elsewhere. How the stewards arrived at the conclusion that her qualification was good I did not hear explained, but, so far as I can learn, Cricket has never trotted in a race in which her late name was given, and it seems to mc that to clear up the doubt existing, the case is one' that should be further gone into. __ must not omit* to mention that the starting, in the hands of Mr C. O'Connor, was carried out in a thoroughly satisfactory manner.