CANTERBURY SPORTING LETTER,

Otago Witness, Issue 1847, 15 April 1887, Page 23

CANTERBURY SPORTING LETTER,

(By Our Special Sporting Correspondent "St. George.") THE O.J.C. AUTUMN MEETING. Christchurch, April 11. Although up to the eve of the Autumn meeting of the C. J. Club, very little interest had been evinced in any of the events set down for decision, a large attendance assembled at the Riccarton racecourse on Monday to witness the racing. The weather was perfect, and the course, though rather hard for those of the competitors who were not quite sound, was in the best of condition for fast running. The most important improvement is the new hurdle race course, .which has been formed from the trial gallop within the course proper, and the holes for fixing the ' hurdles in the main course, which were formerly so dangerous, are not now required. A telephone now connects the reporters' room with the secretary's office "for the convenience of the press," as the working instructions affixed to the instrument by Mr Penfold notify. A lad is placed in charge, and receives all notifications from the secretary's office and communicates them to the reporters. Other litile ideas tending to lighten the labours of the press men have also been introduced. The business of the meeting was carried out by Mr Penfold and his assistants without a hitch, and punctuality was attained by the fields being weighed out in good time by Mr Garforth and despatched by Mr P. Campbell without undue delay, and, as a rule, on fairly even terms. The judge (Mr Kimbell) was credited with having changed his mind on the occasion of the close finish between Rose and Black and Repose hi the Russley Stakes, when Repose's number was first displayed and then replaced by that of Mr O'Brien's fijly, but the mistake was caused by a misunderstanding of the verdict by the judge's assistant. Excepting the two-year-olds, the competing horses were not of high class ; still the racing was interesting, aud speculation was fairly active. Most of the bookmakers laid " machine prices." bub as they in turn supported the totalisatore pretty substantially there was probably no great i loss of revenue by the club.- The racing does not call for lengthened review. Following the order of the card : Garibaldi and Effigy were almost equal favourites for the Hurdles, and Mac and Kingask were also well backed. Mac followed bis usual game of making the running from the start, and though Garibaldi apparently had him beaten a quarter of a mile from the finish the Dunedin horse was a little bit wanting in condition, and' Mac came again and won. Effigy should have won, but lay too far off. At the beginning Kingask fell, and severely injured his rider, R. Kingham, who remained unconscious from concussion of the brain till this morning, when he came round, and is doing as well as can be expected. He is a very decent young fellow, and a good rider. The horse was unhurt. Mokoia was a strong favourite for the Templeton Stakes, Mirella and Jack coming next in favour. The last named started very slowly, and the two others ran a capital race, the popular Zetland 'spots being cleverly carried first past the post amid cheers. The Bard went off at immense velocity in this race, but ran himself out in six furlongs. For the Great Autumn Handicap Hermitage stripped in capital condition, and was made favourite at the rate of . 5 to 4 against him in the totalisators. Marion was known to carry her owner's money, and on this account, more than on her appearance and behaviour, was backed down to about 4 to 1 ; and no quotably longer odds were got by Fair Nell's backers, who were principally the geaeral public. She was a little short of work, but otherwise looked and moved well. Rubina, Leon, Fog, Ruby, and Beresford, were in good trim, but Titbit was very sore. Patrician was stale, and Quibble retained that jaded look which he had shown on the training ground, and looked as unlikely as any horse in the race to return to the paddock the winner. He had been backed by his party ior a few hundreds on Saturday night, and a few followed thiß lead, but moat of hie backers"

on- the coarse; were attached., simply .-by- the long odds. jThe ; race,, may be [briefly Quibble got off well, maintained a good position throughput without ; an'effort |t , and came away when;wantedand w,oneas%. " Hermitage began very slowly,or. rwenijibjive, been] closer .up with the .winner.. F,air lj(eu'wasjiu frpntratf thVmile, but her, condition/ then found her out. r Fog 'led at the i six? furlongs, but vthen Vdroppedj back, accogupanied by Patrician; and" jTisbit.-TMarion was never, more; prominent ■ thag^ai: the; finish. Quibble won, decibively, - and3 J hat,diy (1 tbink)that anything in. the race, except.fipssibly.J'airi Nell, could have, beaten, him "at $he weights, .even granting ; ,them' their / -_b'es,lj,/coßditlGn;»uThe < tofcalisator investments on each starter: were :— < Rubina, £138 ; Hermitage, tf 719 ; Titbit* J3B : Quibble, .£60 1 Ruby, £49 s, Marion, #344;. /Fair Nell, £312;. Patrician, £31 j Leon, £30; Fog, £65; ( Bere8fqrd,J2,0; : tQt6^£1826.;. w •"-*,- r ...Maxim did not lookhis best, 1 buthef- won the Champagne' Stakes very easily,' though Sextant had a good ran at him in the last hundred yards. Gipsy King, witb>Derrett- up, was .the 'most fancied of O'Brien's, pair, but Sextant was without doubt the stable' representative. Sultan will be seen to greater 'advantage after more work. ' - ' .- ■*:„•. * j The Epsom Welter brought a turn of luck to the owner'sof The Gem, s who has run' second so often at! country meetings." It was" a goodHace between her, Jackal,- arid Wairema,of whom the last got off badly. Moana' repeated his New Zealand Cup" performance" of running ''last throughout. I have' already- alluded to the exciting- finish between "Rose and Black 'and Repose for the Russlty Stakes I .') 'Kimberley got within a length of them—his best performance as yet. r The' others " were short of 'condition. Credulity and' Lorraine beirg the most' forward in that respect. ' Oliver Cromwell ' Won the Post Stakes after a close finish with Gaiety, and bis owner was lucky in getting him back for £26. ■ ■ R*iir came i on just before daybreak this morn* ing and continued to fall steadily all day, so that only a small attendance witnessed the second day's racing. The course stood the soaking well and the weather had little effect on the running. Borderman was made favourite for the Hurdle Race, for which on the new course once round arid a distance 'was equal to about a mile and a-balf . Garibaldi was next best favourite. Mac, as usual, cut out the running, but Garibaldi stuck close to him this time, and having him in trouble in the straight won comfortably by three lengths. Borderman was " too long in making his effort and was a poor third, and the others nowhere. Gipsy King was favaurite for the Autumn Nursery Handicap, arid won with the utmost ease. Kimberley was well backed but' only scored another third, Repose occupying' the intervening position, and the other 'starters confirming the previous day's running. Fair Nell and Sextant were the only ones to dispute the Challenge Stakes with Maxim, and 's to 1 bar one was offered. Fair Nell was early out of it, and Sextant took Maxim along at, a good pace. ■ The latter made his effort at the quarter* mile.post, but, amid great excitement, was' seen to be unable to get on terms with the young Australian, who won hands down. Sextant is a remarkably handsome colt, and is susceptible of great improvement, so that next Derby is not quite all over yet. Maxim came in greatly distressed, and showing more plainly than on Monday that he was. out of sorts some* where. Fair Nell was fast overhauling the two* year-olds at the finish. In the Selling Race, Bard made an extraordinary exhibition of his three opponents, of whom Molly Bawn was quite out offcrm. - Bard jumped away with the lead, and pulling Chapman 'out of the saddle the whole way, won open-mouthed by half a dozen lengths. Credulity showed a good, turn of foot to get 60 close to such a flier.' ' Mr E. Cutts bought the winner for £121. "The Easter Handicap, like the principal . handicap of the meeting resulted in a surprise, Fair Nell going out quite . unfriended by owner and friends, and winning a splendid race from La Ros-\ Fair Null's was a really startling performance, and demonstrated that if. she - bad been thoroughly prepared she must have nearly or quite won the Great Autumn Handicap, Marion was at nearly level money favourite, but was never in a forward position. Quibble, Apropos, and Hermitage had each their backers, and each showed a bold front at one part or another of the race. Fog was fractious at the starting post, and was left there when the flag fell. Jack and Mirella were equally fancied for the Consolation, but Moana, the outsider of the six starters, showed unexpected gameness in a close finish with Mirella, and is no' longer a maiden. Thus ended a meeting note'd'for the victories of outsiders. The Lancaster Park Trotting races on Saturday were well attended, and passed off most successfully, both financially and as regards the racing. The weather was fine, and the track was in good order, and stood the wear and tear of ihe large fields well. The protest' ,against Bloxwich in the Pony Harness Trot was the only exception to the smoothness of the proceedings', and the stewards' decision was almost unanimously acquiesced in. The only items cailing for icmark were the success of Gog, who is considerably over 20 years old, in the Pony Harness Trot, on the disqualification of Bloxwich; the continued improvement of Jumbo— the most promising trotter of the day— in the principal event;- and the sterling performance s of Madcap in running second to Jumbo, and winning the Selling Trot. Lome, who won the £50 Harness Trot, is also a greatly improved horse, and got over the ground in marvellous style. The sum of £1820 , was . passed through the totalisators, which, with .the proceeds of the sale of j the winner of the Novel Trot, the surplus on the Selling Trot, and the gate-money, &c, will benefit the funds considerably. Even better would have been doiie.bufc for some of the bookmakers laying totalisator prices. The actual distances -were 40yds in each mile short of the nominal distances, except in the 24 miles race, in which 186 yds more were coveredr In the Handicap Time Pony Trot Gog, took the lead in the second round, and kept it until the fifth, when Bloxwich, who had repeatedly broken, went to the front, and afterwards" trotting more steadily, came in first by 20yds from Gog, who had also y broken several times. A protest against Bloxwicb, on the ground of his not being pulled up when he broke, was, an mentioned above, sustained by a majority of the stewards, and Gog got the stakes. THE MIDDLE PARK STUD. I must correct a remark in last week's notes. The mare ldalia is by no means past bearing. She is in foal to St. George, and it is the hope and expectation of all connected with the stud that the union may be productive of something exceptionally superior. ldalia is still in her prime— only 16 years old—and is fresh and healthy as ever she was. TROTTING. The Lancaster Park Trotting meeting lasi Saturday was one of theTmost successful that the club, has yet held, ,Mr. Goodger'e Jumbo

by Jangler, showed continued improvement in , winning the principal event, and being yet only four years old, will in all probability de-. velop into one of the best trotters we have seen in the -colony.- The Harness . Trot showed Lome also in better form than he had - previously displayed,* and Madcap trotted very -nicely- in the principal event and the Selling Trot. Gog, who won the Pony Harness Trot,' is a wonderful little fellow, 22 years . old, bat he only got the verdict through Bloxwica being "disqualified for continued infractions of the rules against galloping. The Pony Saddle -Trot was won by a rough little piebald 'called Moses, but he 'did so much gallop* ing that it was thought Napara, who trots beautifully, would get- the stakes. Dark Days won the Maiden and Roger, who re» cently trotted in Du&edin, 1 won -the Novel. There is a good deal : of complaint about the handicapping of these trots, and several owners are going to giye Dunedin a trial. Trotting is a big thing n<*w, and worthy of being properly regulated and fairly dealt with. COURSING. The Canterbury Club's opening meeting last Friday and Saturday was about as successful as neetings on the open can be Thirty-four sourses were decided in two days, abput a dozen 3ogs;were moreorlesp severely injured,and everyDody was quite knocked up by the long tramping for hares. Mr Cooper's (Port Chalmers) Saowflighfc and Sana performed very creditably, but his puppy Lusitania, who looked a good one, «ras made short work of in an unlucky trial for aer. Mr Sewell (Oamarii) has a rattling good puppy in Sea Hock. "Mr D. M. Ross' (Timaru) Marora performed best of the all-ages, but Mr O. O'Brien's O'Sullivan is also a thorougly good one. lam glad to hear that there i 3 every probability of the Waterloo Cup being run at Plumpton Park, and after the fate of the property is settled next Saturday, we may expect some definite announcement. The following * are the results :— • Canterbury All Aged Stake, of 3gs each; 20 subs. Winner, £35 ; runner-up, £20 ; third dog, £6. FIRST ROUND. Mr T Thomas' blk Wine Witch, by Bordeaux— BanBhee, beat Mr a W M'Rae's blk w d Waipara, by Ragamuffin— Vivette. Mr J Forward ns bk w b Forget-me-Not, by Bpring— Topsy, beat Mr J Forward n8 Yum Yum, by Criohope Linn— Bab. Mr T Howe ns hr Jb Keepsake, by Gladstone - Beatrice, beat Mr W Jackson's blk w d Sterling, by Stair Lad — Patience. Mr A M'Causland's blk w d Nassau, by Totara — Mary Grey, beat Mr W Jackson's be and w b Coomas'le 11, by Orichone Linn— Reflection. Mr T Cooper's wf b Saowflight, by Lancashire Lad —Miss Anuie, beat Mr J W Mills' f b Symphony, by Sana — Gyp. Mr D Mahoney's r d Titbit, by Musket— Nancy, beat Mr J Forward ns Titania, by Champagne Charlie— Annie Stewart. Mr D M Ross* blk b Mararoa, by Totara—Sunbeam, beat Mr J B Courtney's blk d Radiance, by Crichope Linn— Reflection. . Mr J W Mills' f b Miss Tayjor, by Taraban— Miss Bldley, beat Mr T Alexauder'6 First Lord, by Champagne Charlie— Ladybird. Mr J Cooper's blk bTiinui, by Sir Charles— Miss Miriam, beit Mr J Courtney's b d Cardinal, by Tara-ban-^Mins Bidley. Mr D O'Brien's be <1 O'Sullivan, by Mornington— Swallow, beat Mr W Lefevre's blk w b Princess Charlotte, by Champagne Charlie— Papanui. SECOND HOUND. Forget-me-Not beat Wine Witch Nassau beat Keepsake Titbit beal Snowflight Mararoa beat Miss Taylor O'Sullivan bsat Tainul. 7HIRD BOUND. Nassau beat Forget-me-Not , Mararoa beat Titbit. FINAL.' Mr A M'Causland's blk w d Nassau, by Totara II —Mary Grey ; Mr D M Ross 1 blk b Mararo t, by Totara— Sunbeam ; and Mr D O'Brien's be d O'Sullivan, by Mornington -Swallow, divided the stakes without the latter running his bye. Canterbury Puppy Stakes, of 2gs each. Winner, £25 ; runner-up, £10 ; third dog, £5. Mr J Sewell's bk d Sea Rock, by Seadrift— Black Angel, beat Mr T Alexander's rwd Memento, by Totara ll— For4,et-me-f> ot. ' Mr J Frank's w f b Tasmania, by Van Dietnan— Wasp, beat Mr D O'Brien's fwd John Dean, by Itockwood— Luna. Mr T Howe's r and w b Kearsage, by Taraban— White Fag, beat Mr J Hurse's blk w b Black Mant'e, by Blue Jacket— Lulu. Mr H Wharton's f d Jugurtha, by Crichope Linii —Fan, beat Mr W H Porter's blk b Pansy, by Pakeha— Reflection. ♦ Mr T Howe's r w b Molly Bawn, by Taraban— ' White Flag, beat Mr OO'Donnell's bdb Fly, by . Dart-Fly. Mr T Alexander's f b ltemember Me, by Totara II — Forget-me-Not, beat Mr J Hurse's blk w b Black Jacket, by Blue Jacket— Lulu. Mr W W Jackson* bd d Conjuror, by WizardHomily, beat Mr J Forward ns blk w d Styx, by . Snyder— Venus. | Mr J Frantt ns f and w d Glen 11, by Glen Whis- j per, beat Mr J Cooper's f b Lusitauia, by Justinian— j Wigton Lass. Mr D Mahoney's r and w d Rockhampton, by Bockwood—Hay, beat Mr W H Porter ns blk d Redmond, by Parnell — Rose. Mr J Sewell's r d Sea Hock, by Sea Foam— Last Chance, beat Mr A M'Causeland's f and w b Nightingale, by Whitefoot, dam by Sweep — Flying Fish. SKCOM) BOUiVD. Tasmania beat Sea Rock Jugartha beat Kearsage Molly Bawn beat Remember Me Glen II beat Conjuror Sea H<-uk l>eat Rockhamptou. THIKD BOUND, JugmLhii b:al Tasmania, Molly Bawn beat Gbn 11. FINAL. Mr H Wharton's f d Jugurtha, by Crichope LinnFan ; Mr T Howe's wr b Molly Bawn by Taraban— Whito Flag ; and Mr JB Sewell's r d Sea Hock, by Sea Foam— Last Chance, div'ded the stakes without the latter running a bye. ' Mr Boaz Crawshaw's Bed o' Stone has been matched against Mr Rowland Hill's Waitangi, best of five courses, for £200 aside, to be run on the Plumpton Park on May 19. Mr Wise will act as judge, and Mr M'Connell as slipper, CYCLING. ' The race meeting held yesterday at Lancaster Park, under the auspices of the Christohurch Bicycle Club, passed off most successfully, about 2000 spectators being present. -The 10-mile Championship was the principal event, and it resulted in another victory for W. D. Bean, of the Christcburch Club, who also won the Twoinile Members' Race. Howlison ( Dunedin 8.C.) was the only successful competitor from a distance, winning the Five-mile Handicap after a good race. Bean came to grief in this. The champion was second in the Ladies' Bracelet (a splendid race) and in the One-mile, which was run in very fast time. FOOTBALL. The season fairly commeuced on -Saturday with a match between the Union (Wellington) and Merivale (Christchurch) Clubs. The Merivale had all the beat of the game, and won by two goals from the field and a try (10 points) to nil. Yesterday forenoon 4he Union played she Sydenham at Lancaster Park, and received malher beating. This time by two goals and a ■ try (J2 points) .to. one |iry (two points).