OUR CANTERBURY SPORTING LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1848, 22 April 1887, Page 23

OUR CANTERBURY SPORTING LETTER.

(By Oue Special Sporting Cobbespondent "St. George.") CHBIBTCHURCH, April 19. ;racing. The settling over the O.J.C. Autumn meeting is very slow on the part of the public. The bookmakers win on paper, but can't get the balance in their favour converted into cash in hand. R. Kingan, who sustained concussion of the brain in his fall with Kingask in the Hurdle Race on Easter Monday, is improving slowly, and is considered out of danger. He lies at the Racecouise Hotel, under the kind care of Mr and Mrs O'Brien, who are doing everything possible to alleviate his sufferings and accelerate his recovery One or other ot them sit up with him every night. Only the horses engaged at Ashburton and Timaruare in strong work at Riccarton, excepting the hurdle racers and steeplechasers, who are now being taken up for their winter's work, and respecting whom I shall have something to say in a week or two, when they turn out more regularly. Very little business was done at Mr Cotton's sales of blood stock last week. Mr R. Ray's roan colt Son-of-a-Gun, by Anteros— Vivandiere, was bought in tor 210gs. A yearling colt by Apremont— Miss Kate, brother to Suifcan, and another by Apremont — Forget-me-not, were passed in at 40gs each. Chestnut gelding Tornado, by Bylong— Policy, was passed in at 80gs. Mr P. Butler's Mazurka was sold for 40gs. Hon. W. Robinson's Ifcepo, who cost 400gs at the November sales, was sold for. lOOgs to Mr D. O'Brien ; and Fog was bought in at 41gs. The well-known trotting mare Daisy was bought in at 130g8, a high figure considering that she is still lame. Mr Stead parted with Moana to C. O'Connor for 175gs ; and Credulity went very cheaply to Mr H. Oassidy at 50gs. Mr F. Busch retained Marlborough at 180gs ; and a few lots of lesser consequence were sold at very low figures. Hunters of a good clafis are saleable here, but most of those offered by Captain Cotton at his residence, Riccarton road, last Thursday were of the " has been " sort. A few good weightcarriers, well-known with the hounds, brought from 20gs to 30g6 each. The hurdle racer Master Guy, by Guy Fawkes, sold, to close a partnership, at 38gs, to one of his owners. The horses were tried over hurdles and- a "double" when brought out for sale. A match between Mr G, Rutherford's grey gelding Impostor (late Rob Roy), by Perkin Warbeck, syrt, Bst 121b (Derritt), and Mr G. H. Judd's chestnut mare Leisure Hour by Knottingly, aged, Bst 121b (W. Pearson), the former laying £30 to £20, one mile, was run at Springfield on Saturday afternoon, when Impostor won by two lengths. The match arose put of the defeat of Impostor by Leisure Hour by half a length in the Kowai Pass Maiden Plate last month, which was now avenged by the reputed brother of Peter Osbeck on the same terms of weight and distance. A lot of money changed hands over the event, arid all the countryside turned out to see the race. The entries for the Canterbury Champagne, Derby, and Oaks, 1888, have closed, but will not be published until the nominations made to the other secretaries in New Zealand aud Australia are received here. A very little betting on the N.Z. Cup and Derby has taken place. 100 to 3 was accepted about Fair Nell, but Maxim is favourite, and Sextant shares that honour with him for the Derby. COURSING. The sale of the Plumpton Park Coursing and Racing Company's property at Templeton was held at Matson's Land Sale Rooms, Christchurch, last Thursday. There was a very poor attendance, and a bid of £1000 by the auctioneer | on behalf of the mortgagee was not exceeded, and the property therefore paused into the mortgagee's hands. Some coursiug men, how- r ever, were on the outlook, and immediately after the sale Mr Marti". Taylor, the wellknown greyhound traiuer, of Avonsido, secured a 12 mouths' lease of the park aud all that was therein. He quickly gained the allegiance of some of our leading coursing men, and a programme for the season has been announced, beginning on April 28 and 29, with three stakes to suit everybody: Derby, Oaks, and Birthday Cup on May 23 and 24; Jubilee •- up and Leger on June 21 and 22 ; and the Waterloo Cup on July 13, 14, and 15. Mr Taylor has wisely determined to hold aloof from participation in the management of the coursing itself, leaving that to the stewards, while he continues'bis training engagements at Avonside. At a visit to the grounds I found that about 200 good strong hares were there, and there will be no lack of good trials, without the inconvenience and cost of coursing in the open country. CRICKET. The final match for the Junior Cup was commenced on Saturday, Hill's Midland Eleven and Addington being the opponents. Hill batted first, but made a wretched stand on a soft wicket, and only scored 42. Addington did not get on much better, having nine wickets down for 55 runs. FOOTBALL. The clubs are now all in practice, and it is evident that interest in the game is increasing. Club matches will begin on April 30. BOWLING. The return match between the English and Scottish members of the Ohristchurch Bowling Club was played on the Worcester street green on Saturday af ernoon. It was a beautiful afteruoon, and the green was in good order. After two hours' play the Southrons were returned winners by 73 to 60, having a majority al three of the four rinks.