SPORTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17250, 18 August 1916, Page 9

SPORTING.

NEWS AND NOTES.

Acceptances for the third day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting will closo to-day at noon. Tho well-known North Island trainer G. Price bad to go into a private hospital on Tuesday night, after tho first day’s racing at’ Riccarton, to undergo a minor operation. He is well on the way to recovery, and loft the hospital yesterday afternoon, his present intention being to return homo about Monday. Mr A. W. Rutherford, jun., has secured second claim for the present season on tlie services of J. OJShea, who will do the riding for tho Canterbury owner when lie is not required for Mr T. H. Lowry’s horses. Jcannot was kicked prior to tho start of the Winter Cup. Ho ran a good race, but has since developed lameness, which will probably keep him off the scene for some time.

The win of Art in tho Grand National Hurdlo Handicap yesterday was tho first credited to a South Island horse in this event since Stormont scored in 190 S, prior to which North Island horses had also been consistently successful, following the victory of Social Pest in 1898.

Tho light-weight jockey, C. Emerson, who has been riding in Australia during tho last two months, returned home this ■ week. He was unable to get back in time for the first day of tho Grand National meeting, but ho made an excel Wit it start yesterday by winning the Summer Handicap on •King Star. Counterpoint pulled up very lame after competing in the Woolston Plate yesterday. Queen’s Post, the winner of the Beaufort Steeplechase yesterday, had not previously been successful over country, though she had run prominently more than once. She took part in the Wellington Steeplechase last month, and, after being in front at the last fence, she blundered and lost her place-. Queen’s Post is by Kind’s Guest, by Bill of Portland—Madowla,her dam, H.M.S. Pinafore, being by Cadogan from tho imported mare, Crinoline, d'am of Stornchaser who won some good raoes for Mr S. H. Gollan.

Seadown was responsible for a very attractive performance in winning the August Handicap yesterday. He was some distance behind the leaders in the early stagos, but ho put m a brilliant run over tho last furlong. Seadown has a good record at Riccarton. He made his first appearance last November, when he failed to run up to form, but on returning at Blaster he won two races in highly impressive style. _ After yesterday’s success ho must be given a place among tho best performers in commission at present.

There appeared to be a good deal of interference in the August Handicap yesterday. Gk-nroy was in a good position at the end of three furlongs, but he retired very suddenly a little further on, while Comely and Fabrikoff also suffered through tho unwelcome attentions of another competitor. Art, who won the Grand National Huidlo Handicap yesterday, has not done a great deal of racing over obstacles. At l(ist year’s Grand National mooting ho won two hack hurdlo races, while in November ho won one raco and was second' in two others at the New Zealand Cup fixUiro. Ho was then given a spell, hut at the autumn meeting at Riccarton ho won again, being in receipt of 01b .from Crib, who was second. On this form Art seemed to bo i ntlie top class among South Island hurdlers, but ho failed at Wanganui and Trentham, while Crib ran several firstclass races in the south, prior to beating a good field on the second day of tho Wellington Racing Club’s meeting. It is quite evident, however, that Art did not show his true form in tho North Island, and ho may go on improving still further, as his preparation was somewhat interrupted by 'a cold' which he contracted at Treutham last mouth. The success of Art was particularly well received by the crowd, a hearty ovation greeting fho horse when he returned to the birdcage. Mr G. Fulton, his owner, has hot been racing horses long and this was his first important win. R. Longiey, who prepared Art for his engagement, was warmly congratulated on his success. Longiey, who is very popular with his fellow trainers, has been at Riccarton for a considerable time, and during the last few venrs he has mot with a fair share of good furtune. He prepared Bee for all her racing in New Zealand, but Art is the first horse he has han died as tho winner of sjs important event at Riccarton.

BREEDERS AND OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION. The annual smoke concert of the Canterbury Trotting Horse Owners and Breeders' Association was held last night in the Farmers’ Club rooms. Mn W. J. Moir, president of the association, was in the chair, and there was a large attendance, including visitors from all parts of New Zealand. Advantage was taken of the gathering to present a number of trophies won in connection with last season s racing. A gold-mounted whip, the gift of Mr T. G. Fox, for the most successful rider and driver, was handed to Mr J. Bryce, as was another similar trophy, donated by tho proprietors of tho “Trotting Journal,” while a silvermounted whip was presented to Mr M. Edwards, who was second in the list of winning trainers for the season. A ribbon for tho champion sire of the season, donated by Mr H. Ar Jarden, won by Rothschild, was handed to Mr A. Pringle, to bo forwarded to the owner of tho borso. The recipients returned thanks briefly, Mr Pringle making special reference to tho performance of Rothschild, who was now in his twenty-seventh year. Among the toasts honoured were “The Boys at the Front,” New Zealand Trotting Association, Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, and tho Visitors. An excellent musical programme, to which a numbor of prominent Christchurch amateurs contributed, assisted towards a very successful function.