LATEST CANTERBURY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 769, 26 November 1886, Page 14

LATEST CANTERBURY NEWS.

[By “Fossickbr.”] Christchurch, November 28

Now that our great carnival is over, matters sporting ore not as brisk os they have been for the past month, but it is pleasing to note that the settling, though decidedly in favor of the layers of odds, bos proceeded fairly well. Of the winners here, I am credibly informed that Messrs E. W. Roper and A. Drake are the principal ones, both having stood well on the big betting event, and it would seem that the chief losers are Messrs J. G. Harris and W. Weston, who had laid most odds against the mare. Though it was not generally known at the time, it is prefcty well an assured fact now Mr Drake has an equal interest in Spade Guinea with Mr R. J. Mason, both of whom won a considerable sum over her victory, the former having such implicit confidence in the mare’s chance that he made a special trip to Dunedin shortly before the final payments were made to get some more odds about her. More power to their grit! Your esteemed contributor who paid us a visit during the carnival has so concisely, yst exhaustively, reviewed the meeting, that it is needless for me to go over the grout'd again. There are, however, just one or two items which I may be permitted to supplement to his remarks, which are worthy of comment and on which he was perhaps not so well in a position to judge as I was One was the excessive increase in the attendance of the fail sex as compared to any former occasion on which it has been my privilege to be present, the lawn being quite a gay sight, despite the atrocity of the weather on Cup day. 1 do not use much flattery, but must give the credit for this to the secretary, Mr Penfold, for it is by bis assiduous attention to every detail which enhances their visits to the course, that th« ladies have swarmed there so much more of late. The press representatives have the most kindly wishes for him, as Is proved by the many articles favorably written which have extolled bis work; but in my opinion they have the greatest cause for complaint, for their stand is situated about as inconveniently for watching a race as it is possible to be for seeing the critical portion of a race, namely, the finish, and there seems no ; sign of a change for. a better position. We live in hope, however, that something will be done. As for the other arrangements on the course, I doubt if Lord Carrington himself could find much fault with anything, as they are reckoned equal, in-proportion to size' and age of the country, to even Flemington. After the three days’ racing came the sale of blood stock, and these were varied and many. Captain Cotton, who, to use a quotation from ' a contemporary, ‘ is the champion auctioneer of Canterbury,’ set the ball rolling by a sale of youngsters of Mr Redwood s, and subsequently Mr H. Horsford’s Cadogan and Albany yearlings. There was immense interest taken in the sales, and the auc' ioneer’s eloquence was landed to the echo, but sales were few and far between. The following is the complete return of the sales so far, including private sales since the auction On account of Mr H. Redwood.—Two-year-olds: Ch colt, by Ramaratna—Amy, passed in ; blk filly, by Ramarama—Wainui, Mr G. G. Stead, 90gs; ch filly, by •Ramarama—Fair Agnes, Mr J. A. Brown, 70gs ; ch filly by Ramarama—Countess, no bid, returned to Nelson? ch filly, by Ramarama—Wainui, passed in, returned to Nelson. Yearlings.— Ch filly, by Ramarama—Wainui, Mr G. G. Stead, 40gs; ch filly, by Ramarama —Amy, passed in, returned «o Nelson; ch colt, by Korari—Mocka, passed in, returned to Nelson ; ch colt, by Ingomar—Contessa, Mr P. Campbell. Horses in training.—Br * oolt Itepo, by Cadogan—Awntea, 3 yrs, Mr R. Ray, 400 gs, Hon. W. Robinson ; bay filly, Queen Margaret, by Ramarama —Countess, 3yrs, passed in, returned to Nelson; oh filly, Weasel, by Antercs Zealandia, 3yra, Mr A. Drake, 160 gs ; ch filly Marama, by Ramarama—Amy, 3.yrs, Mr Dennett. On account of Mr G. G. Stead.—The Ruesley yearlmgs : Br colt Memento, by Apremont Forget me-Not, Syrs, Mr Bradley, 75gs. On account of Mr H. Horsford— Br filly, by Hornby—Deceit, Mr Starky, 17gs ; ch filly, by Cadogan—Maritana, Mr H. Thomson, 19gs; hay filly, by Cadogan—Caprice, Mr P. Campbell, 24gs ; bay filly, by Cadogan —La Mode, Mr G. G. Stead, 35ga ; br colt, by Cadogan— Siesta, Mr G. Cliffoid, 105 gs ; bay oolt, by Albany or Cadogan—No Name, Mr G. G. Stead, 115 gs ; ch colt, by Trump Card—Doris, Mr F. Hill, 50gs; ch filly, by Cadogan— Helena, Mr E. Cut.ts, 35gaj bay filly, by Cadogan—Dime, Mr R. Mason, lOlgs. The following yearlings, on account of Middle Park Company, were all passed in—Ch filly, by Apremont—Flattery, Mr P. Butler, lOOgs ; ch filly, by Apremont—Red Rose, reserve, 50ga; oh filly, by Apremont—Fleurange, reserve, 50gs ; br filly, by Apremont—Becky. Sharp, reserve, 50gs ; blk filly, by Apremont —ldalia, reserve, 250 gs; ch colt, by Apremont—Watersprite, reserve, 250ga ; b colt, by Apremont—Hammock, reserve, 250 gs ; b colt, by St. George—Rupee, reserve, 200 gs ; b filly, by St. George—Martyr, reserve, 75ga ; b filly, by St. George— Miss Flat, Mr Matthew Shirwin, 125 gs. Two-year-olds :Br filly, by Apremont —Watersprite, reserve, lOOgs; blk filly, by Albany—Tell Tale, reserve, lOOgs. Alpine Rose, who broke down badly at the home turn in the Cup, through being hit on the ball of the foot by another horse, thus causing a derangement of the suspensory ligament, haa been sold to Mr Hankins, the trainer, for £25. The latter owner will try to patch him up during the ensuing year, but if not fit to work then on the turf, he will probably be relegated to harness work. From all I can here of the jocks who rode in the race, Alpine Rose was holding a good place, and Alex. Sutherland assures me he felt all over a winner till this happened. The sale of blood stock at Mr Cotton’s own auction room was a very poor one indeed, buyers being very eby. One or two Apremont colts were sold, one to go to Napier the other to Nelson. The meeting at the New Brighton Beach on the following Thursday was a very tame pfifair, after such grand racing as we haa been

indulging in the week before. In both of the principal events Master Agne3 came slightly out of the shell under which he has been hiding his light for some time, and, by running second in one event with 12« t (4lbs overweight), to Vanity Fair (9st 101 b-), a $ mile spin. He succeeded in paying a dividend of £4 when- carrying 9st 2lbs to Athol Daisy (Bst lOlbs), and Vanity Fair (Bst lib, 51bs over), over a mile and a quarter of good running on the beach, much to the disgust of those who were nob ‘ in the know.’ Several of our sporting men nre leaving here for the Dunedin Spring Meeting, to take part therein, but not as many as usual, as the handicaps are considered Mr Dowse s worst production, and are condemned on all There has been a little wagering at long odds on the Dunedin Cup, but as yet it is impossible to detail it, as but few of the meta licians can give any definite price laid.