CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 24

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By « RATA."

I am writing under a palpable difficulty, the difficulty of writing with a sprained wristi and apparently the quotation from the vocabulary of the eleight-of-hand trickster, " it is all done by the turn of the wrist," is most applicable to penmanship. Writing is a kind of minor art that requires one essential, provided the operator be not maimed, requisite in a horseman — i.e., good hands, and writing with a sprained wrist is like riding a hard-puller under similar conditions. On Saturday I was indulging in the. glories of a game at football on the C. J.C. football ground, hence my mishap ; yet an excellent game is football under

Rugby rules. Its' opponents may talk of its dangers, but the chances of these are .small iq comparison with even more fashionable gamespolo, to wit. I met with a slight accident on Saturday, bat that is neither the first ncr the worst by many that I have sustained under like circumstances, and undoubt* edly the greatest charm of football lies in a certain element of danger in its play, and it appears evident that that is the main reason of the predominance of its popularity in localities distinguished for more than ordinary physical excellence. Since the adoption of the territorial system of numbering regiments in the British army, for instance, it is apparent the best fighting battalions are mostly recruited from the best football playing districts. Cric&et is not within measurable distance of football ia point of a development of physique; football brings every muscle into play, and it takes nerve and courage to a greater degree than does cricket.' Bar swimming, football is unrivalled in point of hardening muscle all over, and both are considerably in front of gymnastics in that respect. Rowing, too, when' intermixed with sufficient pedestrianism, is evidently a capital exercise for an expansion of muscle, but my experience in that line, beyond the " boxing," is mainly restricted to ocular demon* stration. For pleasure afloat —in small craft — commend -me to well cut canvas and plenty of wind, and the art of sailing a boat properly wants some learning, too, considerably more than even rowing — i.e., in raoing outriggers, — I should think, provided a man's strength and conformation be not below an impossible standard for an attainment of prominence in the latter. Boxing is a very excellent sport, and one that very few aspirants attain' anything like perfection in; and, beyond weight, I should think it embraces more grades of quality than any other sport or pastime whatsoever. Football, however, holds a very high place in point of practical utility in a maintenance and - develop* ment of physical excellence ; no exercise can guage a man's calibre better than a well - contested game at football, under Rugby rules. It surpasses boxing even in the discovery of a weak spot, and one that can pull up anything like fresh after two stubborn spellsat football is tolerably sound. The C.J.C. is a very recently instituted club, and until a month ago its members were non-conversant with the rules of the Rugby Union. These have been accurately acquired, however, and in every successive match the C.J.C. team has exhibited dirt* tinct improvement in play, tbough hitherto the;r opponents have invariably been too strong fcr them. The membership roll being composed mainly of jockeys and stable Jads, the club's be6fc procurable team will necessarily always lack the weight of a first-class opposition fifteen; yet some of the players run remarkably Well, and at practice they evidently make a feature of systematic passing.

It is beyond doubt that some prominent; sportsmen of the present era are legal lum> naries, Sir Henry Hawkins, for instance ; and it is a singular circumstance that raoing actions in the supreme courts of England are treated more jocularly than any other cases whatever, ard whatever the eventual damages may be, A good racing action is the kind of case above all others to produce the acme of legal humour. It appears to be distinctly understood that racing in its government is a sport or pastime, and no sport or pastime can be properly controlled from a wholly legal or commercial point of view. Even the betting act framed by the Imperial Parliament is one of the worst possible legal productions when viewed from a standpoint of common sense. According to its reading ready money betting is absolutely prohibited, while a man can bet any amount whatsoever on credit ; but its reading is contrary to the requirements of the public, and without troubling legislators on the subject, it has been made suitable by legal interpretation and court precedent. Neither bookmaker nor sharker can bet in a place within the'meaning of the act, and the only place beyond the meaning of the act, according to legal inter* pretation, is the racecourse, and even there any thing in the shape of a list makes the bookmaker cnlpable. That that interpretation is perfectly in keeping with public requirements Is beyond doubt, but it wants considerable imaginative power to make it coincide with the actual act. Racing is a matter best governed by those Who know it best, and those are undoubtedly the most prominent racehorse owners.

During the last few days the going has not been particularly good on the training tracks in consequence of rain, but the various teanrs have done a fair amount of work since the decision of the Grand National. Carbine is now active, and he has improved considerably duririg his transition from a two to a three-year-old, or more correctly perhaps, during the lengthy spe)l he was indulged in during the latter end of b's two-year-old season.' He still exhibits symptoms of enlargement in the near bind leg, but thefc limb is very unlikely to affect him materially either in preparation or on the raceceime during the forthcoming eeasou, and it will cer* taiuly want a remarkably good one to put him down on anything like an equality of termc Dunkeld and Helmsman in that team are both progressing rapidly, but Mr O'Brien's two-year-old contingent does not contain a Carbine this season. Manton is also a horse that has improved, and I am confident that we have not seen the best of him yet. He is a muscular animal and a free mover, and in his morning exercise with Artillery he is not deteriorated by comparison, and that is a tall character in point of make and shape. Artillery is a tip-topper in re* spect of looks, and if his qualjtyjbe not equivalent, which is doubtful in Riccarton judgment, however, Butler must have experienced some bad luck with him. Artillery is commonly given 5 three-mile gallop of a morning, and a continuance of that treatment ought to make him fit ere the date of the decision of the New Zealand Cup. One of the most useful horses at Riccarton is Sultan, and he is one that wanffl incessant galloping on tho score of tempers* ment, beyond condition. In his yearling brc* ther Mr " Hammond " Las another good 'an, and if the youngster progresses fairly he may be a better racer than Sultan, thotigh it is doubtful whether he will prove of greater monetary value. Sultan i g an excellent kind of nag to own here ; one good enough to win at any kind of meeting. Among* t top-sawyers he can hardly be overburdened by reason of inferiority of class, and at sm»" meetings he can smother everything under welter weights ; that is a direct result of <&• parity of class, and from a standpoint of winnings a Sultan is almost as valuablo as 8 Maxim, and bis value would be considerably enhanced in a good betting centre. Bob Raj. 3 team is very forward by comparison, and t" horses have done considerably more work th s , n anything at Riccarton during the winter ; ho lS dubious, however, of the ability of his nags iW cope successfully with Australian horses, and » visit to the other side is yet doubtful apP*^ rently. Cutts has got out Lorraine again, » D( J he is a very excellent stamp of horse in appe» r ' ance. He is usually cantered in the afternoon, but I believe doubt still exists in respect of w fore legs. St. Clair is a rare little sticker, »«« from the work that is being slipped into him « . trainer evidently means to have him fit dorms the spring.