CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9920, 28 December 1897, Page 6

CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB.

There was a fairly large attendance at the opening day of this club's midsummer meeting yesterday and, save that a cold wind was blowing, the weather was favourable. The track was in good order, though a trifle dusty in the straight towards the close of the proceeding. The time was very fair for most of the events, but would probably have been faster but for the wind, which somewhat impeded the horses in the home stretch. The sum of £4244 was passed through the totalisator. Though Garry Owen hung in and appeared difficult to handle, he owed his victory in the Maiden to the unsteadiness of Bonnie McGregor, who showed most speed, but in patches. Manton, the favourite, failed to get quite up, but trotted a steady race. Gwynne had an easy win in the Pony Handicap, in which she wasawarm favourite, and displayed capital form. Tho Boxing Day Handicap produced an excellent race and a great finish between the limit and the scratch horses, Mallow and Stonewall Jackson respectively, though in turn General Luck and Shamrock looked like winning. Mallow finished very gamely and wore the big gelding down amidst great excitement. Candidate, and indeed Scrutineer, who finished first and second in the Ranfurly Stakes, were perliaps lucky in beating the favourite, Design, who broke up when looking all over a winner. Candidate, however, showed a fine turn of pice. Murmur paced evenly tluooguout the Progressive Handieep and

outstayed her opponents, but both Royana 1 and Miss Annie disputed most of the ground b and finished close. The Addington Handi- h cap produced a keen struggle between h Monte Carlo and Sam Slick, and Monte got 2 home by a narrow margin only, the pair being placed, though Ascot finished third, apparently on sufferance from others that \ were eased up when pursuit was hopeless, a The Klectric Handicap proved a runaway victory for Sterling lad, who trotted in style, in contradistinction to his earlier display in the Boxing Day Handicap, in which he was a hot favourite. F.B. almost monopolised the betting in this race, but until the turn for home it looked likely to be a good race for second place between her and } Kentucky Maud, when both broke, August j finishing "second outside the distance. Immediately after the race Munro, rider ( of August, on behalf of the owner, entered a , protest against Stirling Lad for inconsistent running. The stewards, who were fully represented, took the evidence of Munro and i \ of the rider of Stirling Lad, and came to the - unanimous decision that the latter had been ( started in his first engagement to win and j I that the rider had done his best to make his horse race. The evidence was read over j to the protestor, who elected to appeal, and the necessary fees having been lodged the i case will be 'brought before the Association ■ on the sth January. The dividend on Stirling Lad would be P9 12s. In the event , of the race being decided against Stirling i Lad, according to therules, he having distanced his field, the race would have to be , run over again by the other starters. While the Stewards were taking the evidence in this case the horses were started by mistake in the Dash Handicap, there being no judge in the box, and they had to be stopped and the race started again. Meanwhile the totalisator was closed. Berlin Maid and Scrutineer beat the heavily-backed division in the actual contest, a dividend of £17 8s being returned on the mare. The following are details of the racing : — MAIDEN HANDICAP (harness), of 50 60V3; second 10 soys, and third 4 soys Irom the stake. Two miles. 28. Mr T. Walker's b g Garry Owen, by Young Irvington, 4 yrs, 16sec .. ..(Owner* 1 108. Mr J. -Milne's eh c Manton, 6 yrs, scr (Owner) 2 70*. Mr J. Lukey's b g Bonnie McGregor, 5 yrs, 16sec .. '.. .. ..(Owner) 3 49A,Ricketty, lOsec: li, Dentist, 12sec ; 4, Selma, 12aec, also started. Garry Owen played up at the start and let Bonnie McGregor well away, but the latter trotted unsteadily, and though he kept getting away from Garryowen and Manton, as they closed on him, a final break in the straight lost him the race, and Garry Owen, who also broke several times, won by thirty yards from Manton, who was just in front of Bonnie McGregor. Time, smin 50sec. Dividend, £8 4s. PONY HANDICAP (in saddle) of 60 soys; second 10 soys, third 5 soys from the stake. Two miles. 219£. Mr 3. Clark's br m Gwynne, by Lincoln Yet, o yrs, 17sec .. : .. (Ante &*) 1 74. Mr B. Edwards's g m Mary, b yrs, 17sec (Owner) 2 17, Nita, scr; 1 Thomas, 7hpc ; li, Black Floss, lOsej; 41, Come Again, Usee; 6, Nipper, 16sec; 79, Queen Bee, 16sec; 3, Jessamine, 17sec; 54i, Hulda, 17sec; 0, Merry Prince, 17sec; 14, Sunset, 18sec; 6£, Skippe., 18sec; 17"-, Goldsmith, 203 ec, also started. Mary went right away and led Gwynne, who got temporarily checked at the start, by sixty yards at the end of the first half mile, but from thence out Gwynne gained fast, and was level at the end of the first mile, going on and winning easily by nearly the distance. Time, smin 44sec. Dividend £2 2s. BOXING DAY HANDICAP (in saddle), of 120 soys ; second 24 soys, third 12 soys from the stake. Two miles. 10£. Mr F. Wright's b g Mallow, aged, 20sec (Owner) 1 28i. Mr F. Holmes's br g Stonewall Jackson, aged, scr .. .. .. ..(Milne) 2 127£. Mr F. atandish's b g General Luck, 5 yrs, 17sec .. .. .. -.(C. Harold) 3 24, Three Cheers, 4sec; 15}, Maggie M., 7sec; 5, Lady May, 7sec; 108 i, Allerton, l&sec ; 39, Shamrock, losec; 2oi, Larry, 20sec ; 275 i, Sterling Lad, 20sec ; and 5, Billy Buttons, 20sec, also started. General Luck was in front at the end of the first round, with Mallow in close attendance, Shamrock being third, Sterling Lad having broken General Luck continued in frent, but Shamrock ran into second place, and Mallow and Stonewall Jackson followed in order. Shamrock broke and let Mallow up second again. Then Stonewall Jackson appeared on the scene, and General Luck breaking, Stonewall and Mallow got together, arid iv the last round Stonewall drew.to theiront, but Mallow came at him at the turn for home and got three lengths' advantage. Stonewall Jackson came again, and got almost on terms, and in a fine struggle just suffered defeat by a head; General Luck a fair third. All the others eased up. Time, smin Dividend £57 4s. RANFURLY STAK_S(in harness), of 60 soys; second 12 soys, third 6 soys from the stake. For three-year-olds. One mile. 67j. Mr H. Mace's eh g Candidate, by Electioneer, scr .. .. '.. '.. (F.Frost) 1 27. Mr F. Mulholrand's eh g Scrutineer, 55eec (Owner) 2 114£. Mr A. G. Holtnes'si be Design, 20sec ! (S. Price) 3 The favourite, trotting well from his mark, got well under weigh, and had a commanding lead for half the journey, but, breaking going round the back the second time and again at the top turn, was overhauled and passed by Candidate and Scrutineer- respectively, Candidate going the faster and winning by three lengths, Design about two lengths off third. Time, 2min 37fcsec. Dividend,'. £2 14s. PROGRESSIVE HANDICAP (in saddle), of 50sovs; second 10 soys, third 5 soys from the stake. Two mili-s. 215. Mr I>. McKendrj's b m Murmur, by Black- .. wood Abdallah, 5 yrs, 20sec ..(C. Harrold) 1 266. Mr P. JAf-in's.w iv Royana, aged, 25sec (J. Wright) 2 1 47 i. Mr J. Binnie's. (ns) b in Miss Annie, 4 yrs, 18seu ..(Owner) 3 _5, Spec,.6sec; 17, Belfast Girl, lOsec; 9J, Jennie 111., 18sec; 9, Miss Manton, ISsec; 41, Kui Iwi, 18eec ; 6, Napoleon, 20sec; 29, Come Again, 24sec'. 114, Garry Owen, 25sec, also started. Royana and Come Again led for a short distance, whena each broke in turn, and j Murmur and Aunie got up, and led ; Royana at the end of the first mile. Royana repassed Miss Annie, and went in pursuit of Murmur and got level, but Murmur res- - ponded again, and Royana breaking up Murmur won by forty yards, Miss Annie i close up third. Time, smin 34sec. Dividend, . £2 14s. ■ ADDINGTON HANDICAP (in names.-), of 120 soys; second 24 soys, third 12 soys from stake. lOsec limit. Two miles. 654. Messrs "'rake and Yaw's br g Monte Carlo, by 1 Lincoln Yet, aged, 03ec .. .. (Stace) 1 131. Mr W. J. Rae's b g Sam Slick, 6 yrs (Owner) 2 107J, Little Willie, scr; 2Ui, Rita, 2sec; 84i, Rosewood, B**c; and 464, Ascot, lOsec, also started. Ascot led for part of a circuit, when Sam, who broke going down the back, displaced * him and led Rosewood at the end of the first round. Rosewood breaking, then the back horses drew up, Monte Carlo running * into third place. At the end of a mile ' Monte Carlo ran up to Sam Slick, who; however, kept his place, with Monte on his - wheel, to the turn into the straight for the '■ third time, when Sam broke, and Monte i led past the stand by two lengths. Little ; Willie having run into third place. The race, however, was confined to the two ' leaders, and amidst great excitement Sam c Slick on the outside drew on Monte Carlo, '• and after a great race all down the back and d up the straight Monte Carlo just lasted long enough to win by a good head, Sam Slick - breaking on the post. Time, smin 2sec. ■> Dividend, £8 16s. ELECTRIC HANDICAP (in saddle), of 75 soys; 8 second 15 soys, third 7 soys from the stake. One 5 mile. 59A. Mr W. Wood's br h Sterling Lad, aged, 15sec (Priugle) 1 16, Stonewall Jackson, 2sec; 35, ; -22, Kentucky Wiikes, 9sec; 235, F. 8., 12sec ; 57, General Luck, 13sec; 474, August, 13sec; 224, Kentucky „ Maud, 14see; 14, Mallow, 12sec (mc 3sec pen); 41, *- Rauriki, 15see, aNo started. r Kentucky M.iud getting quickly to wo. k * passed Rauriki aud Sterling Lad imme--8 cliately after the start, and drew out clear '• of the field, but Sterling Lad going down fc the back with a fine burst of speed settled c to work and caught and passed the leader, ! « and maintaining the pace was sixty yards r in front clear of Kentucky Maud and F. 8., 6 who were running together passing the stand. ' Sterling Lad increased his lead, and trotting * kindly entered the straight quite a hundred * yards in front of Kentucky Maud and F. 8., 1 who both broke further on, and were passed B by August, who finished considerably over 1 the distance behind the easing up Sterling * Lad. Time, 2min 58_sec. Pending the decision of the South Island '? Trotting Association on the appeal against » the club in the protest referred to above, the i totalisator money is impounded. 3 DASH HANDICAP (harness), of 75 soys ; second t 15 soys, third 7 soys; Issec limit One mile, j 33. Mr J. Walkei'sbrm Berlin Maid, by Berlin, aged, 15sec .. .. (J. Milne) 1 1 164. Mr F. Mulhofland's eh c Scrutineer, 3 yrs, - 12sec .. .. .. (Owner) 2 r 1484. Mr V. Harris's The Baron. 13sec (Albaugh) 3 : 255, Vainglorious, llsec; 164, Topsy Irvingion, I 15sec; 21 J, Sapphire, 15sec, also started. 1 The horses were started before the judge - was in his place, and Topsy frvington and , The Baron came into the straight in front » of Berlin Maid, who dwelt at the start. 3 The race was stopped when half the distance r had been run. On being started again Berlin i Maid and Topsy Irvington got well away,

The Baron dwelling. Berlin Maid, sticking . best to her work, drew right away and won by half a dozen lengths from Scrutineer, who beat the Baron about four lengths. Time, 2min 43sec. Dividend, £17 3s.

The handicaps for the second day's events will appear to-morrow morning, and the aaccept-inces be taken to-mortow night. I