CANTERBURY AUIUMN MEETING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4419, 18 April 1876, Page 2

CANTERBURY AUIUMN MEETING.

(from oor special reporter.)

First Day, Monday, Afhil 17th The day dawned dull, gloomy, and threatening. About seven o'clock a steady rain set in, which lasted till about nine. During this period the prospect of a good day appeared remote, but soon afterwards the clouds began to break, and the aspect of the sky betokened a fine day. Large numbers of strangers were present in town to witness the races. The various modes of locomotion to the course were liberally patronised, the iron horse coming in for the lion's share —and the railway arrangements were good. The attendance was tolerably numerous, though no doubt many more would have been present from Cnristchurch and vicinity had it not been for the rainy weather in the early morning. The new Stand and the improvements in the old Stand were thoroughly appreciated, and the Canterbury Jockey Club is to be complimented upon the complete arrangements for the accommodation of the public. The first event upon the card was the Trial Plate, which was, comparatively speaking, a dead failure, the majority of those nominated being evidently scared by Templeton. The consequence was, the race was reduced to a match between the crack of the Yaldhurst stable, and Rob Roy. The betting was nominal, but I heard one bet booked of twenty to one on Templeton and four others of ten pounds each to one by a Dunedin bookmakei'. Triau Plate of 100 soys; entrance, 5 soys; for three-year-olds and upwards. Maidens at time of star* ingr allowed—for 3 yra, 51bs; i yrs, lOlbs; 5 yes aud upwards, 141bg. Winners of 100 soys in one event since Nov. 1, 1875, to carry 7iba penalty; of 200sovp,1l01b»; of 300 soys, Hlbs. 1J mile weight-for-age. Distance one mile and a quarter. Mr J. Lunn's br g, Rob Boy, 4 yjs, Bsfc 41ba, (A. Lyford) 1 Mr Delamain's b h Templeton, 5 yrs, 9st lOlbs, (J.Watty) 2 The race is easily described, Sob Roy made the running from the jump, and Templeton, who seemed to be unable to get upon his legs, was never on terms with him. Eobßoy won by five lengths and was completely .lone at the finish. Judging from the result, Templeton must be completely out of the big handicap tomorrow. Time, 2min. 2sec. £t. Legke Stares, ■of 100 sovb., added to a sweep" (takes of 10 soys. each, h. ft. for acceptors. Colts, Bst 101b; fillies and geldifcgs, B<t 7lb. 2 soys. on nomination; 3 soys. on general entry day of Autumn Meeting; 5 soys. at 1 p.m. on the day of the race. St. Leger course. Closed with 11 subs. Mr Delamain's Pungawerewere had a walk over, the only other entries—viz., Daniel O'Rourke and Folle Farine—being scratched. Cuampaoxe Stakbs, of 100 soys., added to a sweepttakei of 10 aOV3. each, h. ft. for acceptors. Colts, Bst 101b; fillies and gel<iinge, 8 181b. 2 aovs. on nomination; 3 soys. on general entry day of Autumn Meeting; 5 eovs. at 1 p.m. on the day of the race. Distance, six f urlonijs. Closed with 10 subs. Mr W. C. Webb's eh cby Tratluccr-Ada .. (Ray) 1 Mr R. Richardson's b c Dead-heat .. (Owner) 2 Mr Redwood's h,c Songster, by Towton—Skybird.. (A. Lyford) 3 Mr Bed wood's eh c by Towton—Fair Agnes (T. Lyford) 0 Mr Webb's blk c by Traducer—Tantrums .. .. 0 AH of the five acceptors ran, and it was perhaps the best race of the day. After three false starts the lot got away badly, the Ada Colt coming at once to the front, the Fair Agnes Colt lying second, and Dead Heat and Tantrums in the rear. After the fi^st quarter of a mile, Fair Agnes fell back and Songster got into second place. They ran thus to the turn, where all closed, the Ada Colt having the best of it. At the distance, Songster, the Ada Colt, and Dead Heat, were all racing, and a grand struggle home ensued, resulting in favour of the Ada Colt by a short half-neck, Dead Heat second, and Songster an indiiferent third. Time, lmin. 22sec Tbadksmes's Plate Handicap, of 100 soys., for thrce-year-okls and upwards, added to a sweepstakes of 7 soys. each; 2 soys. on nomination, 6 soys. on acceptance. Mr H. Redwood's b h Guy Fawkes, i yrs, Oat lib (T. Lyford) 1 Mr I>. O'Brien's b g Fishhook, 3 yrs, 7st 61b (R. Derritt) 2 Mr S. Ray's c h Tadmor, 4. yrs, 7st 131b .. ..3 Mr Watt's be Parawhcnua, 6 yrs, Bst 51b .. .. 0 Mr R. M'lvor's b h Hercules, i yrs, 7st 91b .. ~ 0 Mr F. W. Delamain's br f Pungawerewere, 7st 51b 0 Mr 8. Nosworthy's br c Tattler. 7st 0 Mr DeJamain's Elfin King, 7st 31bs 0 Mr T. Shand's b c The Chief, 6st 0 Mr T. Shand's b m Wild Rose, 6st 71b .. .. 0 Out of eleven eiitries, ten cams to the post, Ariel being scratched. After a good start, Guy Fawkes, Fishhook, and Tadmor rushed together to the front, the others following in the ruck. In the turn, they all closed up, Tadmor aud Fishhook leading. Guy Fawkes and Tadmor then assumed the lead, which they retained up to the rails, wbon Fishhook came up, but Lyford (the jockey) lifted the whip. The Guy answered gamely,"and Fishhook and the Guy came together a\teidheat; Twlroor third. This

race eventually resulted in a walk over for GuyFawkes, Fishhook refusing to vry conclusions it;^ him- r,Tho Cr]aiet' a beautiful horse, owned by Mr T. Shand, bolted before the start, rurif ning nearly twica round the course, which threw him clean out of the race. His jock was a light boy, and could not hold him in. He rushed round with remarkable speed, and might have been in thef race, but for this untoward accident. He was badly lamed. The day w&9 not particularly brilliant to the bookmakers—at least a couple of whom would havefound it more profitable not to have como and visited Christchurch.

The big event of the coming day had e-j doubt its influence on to-day's programmer Templeton was run yesterday in his shoos, and it is thought that if taken off, and if the weather be fine, that the probability of his winning the Cup is good. However, this is to> be taken with great qualification, Many, not-, withstanding his unexpected defeat to-day, maintain that Templeton still will win to-mor-

Fishhook did not run off to decide the dead heat, in order, no doubt, to be kept fresh for the big event Ariel is rising into preferenca for the Handicap., and is now looked upon as a likely one. [Per Phess Agency.] The racing in the two first events to-day was a failure. The Trial Plate, which was consicW ercd a moral certainty for Templeton, was woa easily by Rob Roy, a horse th?t no one wno» had seen him run could have thought had a ghost of a chance, as nearly all the horses in. the Trial Plate had accepted for the Autumn. Handicap to-morrow. Owners were loth to send them for the sma'l amount offered in the former race. Thus, out of seven sntries only Templeton and Rob Roy came to the posti The former appeared out of all form, and waa beaten easily, the pot thus boilhig over with a vengeance. The St. Leger was a walk over for Pungawerewere, Daniel O'Rourke, the only other acceptor out of fourteen subscribers being reserved for the Great Autumn Handicap, for which the owner thinks he has a good chance. Many had backed Daniel for the St. Leger, and notwithstanding that Bst. lOlbs. would, have been a stiff weight for such a little horse, he would have pushed Pungawerewere hard— more especially as the latter did not appear at all there to-day. The Champagne Stakes brought four nice babies to face the starter. Dead Heat has been at work for six months, and his running proved he was no mean animal. Richardson will, in fact, have a rare good oolfc in Dead Heat for the next Derby, which ha his been heavily backed to win. The Ada colt has come much into favour lately, from reports of trials, and Bob Ray having the mount. He ran splendidly, but.owes his win entirely to Ray's riding. Songster was thought to have % good show for the race, but somehow Skybird'e stock never answer the expectations of thaicfriends; although possessing more than average - speed, they lack staying. powers The Fair Agnes colt is a powerful youngster, and will make a useful horse next year. The Tantrums colt is a fine animal, and will be dangerous afc the Spring Meeting. The Tradesmen's Handicap ia a face about which there has been any amount of growling ever since the weights cams out. Delamaine's two were said to be chucked in, and Guy Fawkes, Tadinor, and Fishhook crushed out. The result of the race must be very flattering to Sted, the handicapper, as Delamaine's two were nowhere, while Gay Fawkes, Tadinor, and Fishhook were the only ones that showed in the race.