CANTERBURY RACES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2205, 15 January 1868, Page 2

CANTERBURY RACES.

METROPOLITAN MEETING. Tuesday, Jan. 14. With the weather almost perfect, with immensely increased facilities for reaching the course, and with every promise of excellent sport, there ought to hare been more than double the number of people present yesterday. Compared with the first day of last year's meeting, when Sir George Grey was in Canterbury, and on the course, there was a decided falling-off in the attendance. There are many reasons why such should have been the case, The Christmas and New Year holidays are but just ended, and there is a prospect that in a month or two the province will be called on to entertain His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Upcountry people, too, in many instances, are still busily engaged in shearing, having been delayed by the rainy weather which has prevailed, more or less, for some weeks hack. To these causes must be added the careful economy which, in most instances, has necessarily succeeded the hard times through which we have passed. Although the course can now be reached in half the time, and for less than a quarter of the sum it used to cost, many people preferred to stay at home rather than incur even the now trifling expense of travelling to and from Christchurcb. But after making every allowance, the attendance was by no means what it ought to have been. Christchurch sent nearly 3000 persons to witness the Lyttelton regatta on New Year's Day, but Lyttelton, yesterday, did not send as many hundreds to the racecourse. The general deficiency, however, was mostly owing to the absence of visitors from up-country.

Although there has been considerable excitement about the races for the last fortnight, it has been mainly confined to those more immediately interested in the horses, and to those who are devoted to le sport. The general public have evinced no enthusiasm, and have hardly made themselves acquainted with the names of the horses or their owners. In proof of this, and as evincing the few to whom the races were an absorbing topic of interest, we may point to the scanty patronage given to the sweeps. In former years, subscribers came forward readily, and the various horses were competed for with an eagerness which betokened the sympathy of the many, rather than the calculation of the few. But this year, in a sweep on the principal event, only two-fifths of the tickets were sold, while minor sweeps were few, and not easily got up.

Canterbury race meetings have rarely been free from high winds—generally nor'-westers. Yesterday was no exception to the rule, though the strong breeze was less disagreeable than usual, from the fact that it had rained heavily for a couple of hours early ju the morning. There was little or 110 dust on the course or on the roads, and the glare of the tun was tempered by the freshness and coolness of the ground. As we have already remarked, the weather was almost faultless.

The first race on the card was advertised for 1 p.m., and we would here remark that the specified time was more closely adhered to throughout the day than is usually the case. All the events were disposed of within the time prescribed, and yet there was no hurry, no confusion. It was nearly twelve before the public began to arrive in any numbers, At half-past eleven there were not more than five hundred on the course; after half-past one there were few additions to the attendance. It was to be expected that the railway, which discharges its freight within seven minutes' walk of the Grand Stand, would convey most of the people to the course. The fare for third class is very moderate, and a seat in an open carriage or truck, on a fine day, is not at all disagreeable. Cobb and Co. sent - a'couple of their large coaches, drawn by six horses, Both were well filled; and, as on previous occasions, served admirably the purpose of a Grand Stand to those who wero fortunate enough to have outside places. The number of private traps on the ground was comparatively small ; they did not nearly tilke up the space on both sides of that portion of tiie straight run in which is railed off, as they used to do. There were also few horsemen, and it may fairly bo said that the railway has robbed tho road and course of more than half tho fun which used to be afforded by the irregular and sometimes very ecoen trio cavalry. Refreshments, in great variety and of excel'out quality, were Bupplled by Mr T, B, Thompkina in tho Grand Staud, and by a host of others in the usual place a little to tho rear, All seemed to bo driving a fair trade, though the extroraely few cases of inebriation indicatod a general moderation at least in the use of spirituous liquors, Tho man who invents a new game for a raco-course will confer a great benefit on his species. Aunt Sally, Doodlem Bucks, tho Wheel of Fortune species, and the sliooting-for-nuts genus are all abominably old, and not very exciting. They were all on the course yesterday, with a,

few of tholr congeners, but they did not meet with a very largo iharo of public attention. A compact body of police, as usual, was on the ground, under the orders of Inspector 1 cndcr. But their services were hardly required, Boyond the arrest of one man, who allowed his enthusiasm for Knottingley to carry him a little too far, we heard of nothing calling for interference. Tho culprit, who was fully sensible of and very penitent for his misconduct, was let off with a reprimand. The duties which fall to tho Clerk of the scab, were most cfilclcntly and courteously discharged by Mr It. Hustler. Mr F. Swiniey acted as Starter, and Mr E. W, Millett as Clerk of tho Course,

Onco moro the Timaru division have carried off the Canterbury Cup, mnking the third year running that the race has gono to the southward. But before writing on the principal event of the day, wo shall attempt to giro our readers some notion of the races generally. The sticky, holding state of tho ground naturally made the races slower than usual j and, in fact, the Maiden Plate was tho slowest race we ever saw, as the horses for the first half mile went no faster than they would have done at an exerciso canter. The result of the Maiden proved that Abbess must be_ a rank " duffer," The winner, Slander, is perhaps a good mare, though it strikes us she has a temper of her own, and that she will not always "try," The Lottery Plate proved, as we prognosticated, a certainty for Virginia, although many people think that if Presto had got away on even terms with his horses, he would have won j but we are convinced his being left so far behind at the beginning was no fault of the Starter, as the horses were • level enough when the flags dropped, The big race requires but little comment, as Knottingley cut the field down from start to finish. That he is the great horse people fancy, we beg leave to doubt, and the fact of Backbiter running second does not_ make us alter our opinion that he (Backbiter) is a brute, We were certainly very sorry to see the two last Canterbury Cup winners finishing in the rear, but any one with half an eye in his head, could see that Stormbird was unfit, and as,we expected, the weight was too much for the little mare,

The Criterion Stakes was principally noticeable for the fact of its producing the only accident we have ever seen on the Christchurch Course. Somehow or other Presto ran against a post, and the consequence was that D. Jones, his rider, was severely hurt. Two protests weie entered at once against Virginia, so that the race iB atill in doubt. The Stewards will decide to-day after hearing Carter's evidence. The day's sport was woundup with that most desirable of all sports—a Hack Race—which was won by an animal whose name ws were unable to find out. The races to-morrow look as if they would produce good sport, and we shall venture to predict the winners as follows Derby-Flying Jib. Christchurch Plate—Magenta Grand Stand Handicap—Omen or Blackboy (whichever is sent, but if both eo, Omen). Ham Stakes—Bobby Burns. Tyro Stakes—Backbiter. MAIDEK PLATE. Of 200 sovg., added to a sweepstakes of '2O sovs., h f second horse to save his stake. H miles. For all horses that have never won a sweepstakes or plate previous to starting. 3 yrs, Bst; 4 yrs, 9st 31bs; 5 yrs, 9st Blb ; 6 yrs and aged, 9st 9lb. Mr Brabazon's b f Slander, by Traducer, 4 yrs, 9st (Eeay) ... ... ... 1 Mr H. Redwood's bo Ake Ake, 4 yrs, 9st 31bs (Powell) ... 2 Mr Mallock's b f, by Tom King, 3 yrs, 7st 11 lbs (Carter) ... ... ... 3 Mr Barnard's b g Flying Jib, 3 yrs, 7st lllba (Jones) ... ... ... 0 Mr Douglas' eh f Abbeis, 3 yrs, 7st lllbs (Fuller) ... 0

Betting— 6 to 4- against Abbess (taken freely); 3to I against Ake Ake, Tom King filly, and Slander; and sto 1 against Flying Jib.

The flag dropped to an excellent start, the first to shew in advance being Ake Ake and Slander; the latter, however,was immediately pulled back, and the running was made at a alow pace by Flying Jib, the others all lying in a cluster behind him. The "Jib" held the lead until the turn into the straight, when the pace improved, and Ake Ake showed in front; they ran in this order till they reached the distance, when Eeay let his filly out, and heading his horse, iu a few strides, continued his advantage to the end, winning very easily by three lengths, Ake Ake second, and the Tom King filly third. The race was very slow throughout, and the time, as reported, 3 m., 2 sec. ' LOTTERY PLATE. Of 50 sovs, added to a sweepstake of 5 sovs each, f mile. 2 yrs, 6st 21b j 6 yrs, Bst 31b; 4 yrs, 9st 3lb; 5 yrs, 6 yrs, and aged, 9st 7lb.

Mr Corsan's b m Virginia, by William Tell, aged, 9sfc 41b, (O'Bryen) Mr Stafford's r f Omen, 9st, (Fevan) Mr Delamain's ch g Preato, 5 yrs, 9st 41b (Jones) Mr Mallock's b m Jeu d'Esprit, 5 yrs, 9st4lb, (Carter)

Betting—even on Virginia, 6to 4 against Presto, and 5 to 1 agaist Omen and Jeu d'Esprit. A good start, but Presto stopped, and lost a good many lengths, Virginia made the running all through, and being never headed won by a length ; Omen second, and Presto, who eould never make up his lost ground, third, although by some error the judge placed Jeu d'Esprit in this place, and the numbers were hoisted accordingly.

CANTERBURY CUP, Of 500 80vs, added to a sweepstakes of 25 sovs. 3 miles, £lO ft. Second horse to receive 50 sovs out of the stakes. 3 yrs 7st 7lbs | 4 yrs, 9st 3 lbs j 5 yrs, 9st lllbs j 6 yrs and aged, lOst lib. Mr Studholme's o h Knottingley, by ScudTermagant, 4 yrs. Ost 31bs (R. Kay) ... 1 Mr Mallock's bl g Backbiter, by Traducer— Git&na, 4 yrs, Ost (Carter) ... ... 2 Mr Stafford's ch g Magenta, by Malton—Ada, 4 yrs, 9st (Fevan) ... ... 3 Mr Corsan's ch h Stormbird, by Sledmero—

Spray, Oyrs, lOst lib (O'Bryen) ... 0 Mr Delamain's ch m Bella of the Isle, by Malton— Spray, 5 yrs, 9st 81bs (Jones) ... 0

Betting—2 to 1 against Knottingley; 8 to 1 against Belle of the Isle; 7 to 2 against Magenta; 5 to I against Stormbird; and 8 and 10 to 1 against Backbiter. The flag fell at 20 minutes past 3 to a very good start, Knottingley at once going to the front, which position he never relinquished during the race, Backbiter and Magenia were alternately in the second place, Belle of the Isle and Stormbird lying off. Shortly after passing the Btand the first time, Stormbird fell to the r<>ar, and was soon hopelessly beaten ; not long afterwards, the Belle was in the Bame plight, Turning into the straight the second time, Knottingley still led but soon after Carter took backbiter up to thcchcsnut's quarters and challenged him; the effort, however, was useless, as Knottingley came away at the di<titnce, and won pretty .easily by two lengths, Backbiter second, and Magenta, who was pulling up, finding it no good to persevere third, while Belle of the Isle and Stormbird came in together some distance behind. Time—6 min. 6 sec. The race was ia accordance with " Hermit's " prophecy, viz., that it will be a slow race, and that Knottingley will win. CBITBRIOX BTAEB9 Of 50 bovs, added to a sweepstakes of 5 soys each. 1 mile. 2 yrs, sst 7lbs; 3 yrs, Bst i 4 yrs, 9st Slbs; 5 yrs, 9st Bibs; 6 yrs and aged, 9st 91bs. In this race we can only give our readers the horses in the order they passed the post, as the result of the protests is not yet known. Mr Corson's b m Virginia, by William Toll, aged, Gst 81b (O'Brjron) ... ... 1 Mr Stafford's eh m Nebula, 6 yrs, 9at 61b (Fovan) ... 2 Mr Mallock'a b m Jeu d'Esprit, 6 yrs, 9at 61b (Carter) ... ... ... 3 MrDelamain'i oh g Presto, 5 yrs, Oat 61b (Jones) ... ... ...Fell Mr MorUm oh f Lady of the Lake, 3 jra, 7at lib (Sturgeon) ... ... 0 Betting—Even against Virginia, 2 to 11

against Nebula and Presto, and any odds against the other two.

Virginia made all the running, and easily by a length, Nebula being second The winner on returning to scale w a « objected to, as described above.

Thus finished a most successful day's racing, though the attendance was decidedlv not up to the mark. We should like to see bigger fields, and the public supporting the racing better; but wo suppose that tho hard times so generally felt in Canterbury j n . fluence both owners and subscribers. Let us hope that next year times will have for the better, and that Canterbury will still hold its position as the best racing proving in New Zealand.