CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 31

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Rata.

Now a majority of trainers and the best horses trained at Riccarton have departed to "assist" at the D.J.C. Autumn meeting, conversation is the chief feature of interest here at present. Old discussions are criticised and new arguments advanced to such an extent that one can come to no other conclusion but that it is wholly impossible to enact laws for the turf absolutely assimilating to the judgement of even a moiety of professional racing men. A rule that frequently cornea under notice is that icgarding the receipt of nominations, which distinctly says that entries must be in the hands of secretaries by the advertised time or they cannot be received. The rule is a good one in its way, but a good many racing men seem to object to it. I do not think it coincides with the opinion of the majority. It is argued that an entry, provided it can be proved to be in the hands of the post or telegraph office authorities in ample time to reach the secretary of a racing club by the time advertised for the closing of such entry, should be received independent of stoppage in telegraphic communication or clerical or other errors in the post office. It is also argued that an entry should hold good if it be left in the room of any secretary of a racing club by the appointed time. In regard to the leaving of a letter in a Becre- | tary's room enclosing an entry, and that entry not being received, a strong argument was advanced this morning. The representative of a well-known trainer went to the secretary's room of a metropolitan club and found nobody in the office, and after waiting a considerable time left the letter on the table. That letter was not found until the entries were posted, and the entry not therefore received. There may have been faults on both sides in that ca c e, but the great fault undoubtedly lay on the secretary's side. To my thinking, too, it seems absurd that entries, and more especially acceptances and final payments, should not be received through Government departmental accidents. In betting cases these accidents would not hold good under tbe jurisdiction of a properly regulated Tattersall's committee. In the case of the letter left on a secretary's table the bearer may have had no right to leave it there, but the secretary certainly ous;ht to have had somebody there to receive it, or the door of his office, with a letter-box slit in it, shut at any rate. It appears to me, after hearing a great deal of argument on the subject, that the rule relating to entries, acceptances, and final payments can be amended with advantage to owners, and it is a matter that ought to come under the consideration of the conference. Owners can hardly be expected to enter horses a week before time, far less pay acceptances and final payments for them a week before time when in the last stage of their preparations. The Riccarton racecourse presented a fairly lively scene on Thursday, the butcher's picnic being on the tapis. The attendance was not up to that of last year in consequence of the intercolonial cricket match at Lancaster Park ; but a good programme was got through, and while the butcher people evidently enjoyed themselves right enough most of those horsey left at Riccarton were present. Personally I like picnicing by the " sad sea waves," but Riccarton is, nevertheless, an excellent spot for that line of business, especially when the programme is mainly made up of athletic sports. The trotting meeting held at Plumpton Park on Saturday was successful, some of the trotting beiDg excellent, and undoubtedly that class of sport is improving here very rapidly. Its improvement is no doubt mainly a result of the curtailment of racing, and I feel pretty certain that the metropolitan clubs have made a mistake in the interests of racing in trying to partially suppress it. Under present circumstances a fairly good plater is bad property, while a 2min 40aec trotter is worth owning. The Sockburn Handicap on Saturday produced a capital race between Victon and Maud V., who finished first and second, in front of a very fair field, the former only getting home by about half a neck. He paid £10 4s, too— the biggest dividend of the day. That was no fault of his owners, either, as he made very little secret of his horse's ability. Perhaps those he gave the "straight griffin "to thought he was overrating his nag. In the handicap, too, he was real well in, and when the handicap came out I saw him spotted by a handicapper as being a good bit in front of the time he might have expected. The handicap, however, proved a good one, Victoria 11, the third horse, being only half a dozen lengths behind Maud V., and the three placed horses were all outsiders. Up to the present I have seen about half a dozen most excellent trots in Canterbury — I may say trots of superlative excellence in respect •of finish — and that between Victon and Maud V on Saturday was as good as any I have previously seen.

Tonga, who Avon the Handicap Pony Trot (in saddle), is a real good pony. He was opposed to a fair field, and won anyhow from scratch, cutting out the one mile in 2min 52aec, according to official time, though I know a watchholder that made his actual time 2min 56Jsec. He ' ' dwelled " a bit, however, before getting properly under weigh, and the watchholder I refer to took him from the starting point, whete he was momentarily stopped by the starter. I fancy, however, that 2min sfiisec is nearer his actual time than 2mins'sec.

The Plumpton Park Handicap (in harness) was won somewhat easily by Orphan Bay, who covered the two miles in smin 52scc. Orphan Boy had Brooklyn for an attendant home, and that three-year-old colt is one not unlikely to develop a high rate of speed with a bit more age on him.

Uncle Tom took 3tnin Esec to cover the mile in the Pony Trot (in harness), and I fancy some better ponies finished behind him, though there is no doubt Uncle Tom is a fair nag of his class. After two unsuccessful esEays earlier in the afternoon, Bilbah came out and won the Recovery Handicap somewhat easily in 2min 57sec. Sea Foam won the Maiden Trot (in harness) and Prince Victor the Maiden Trot (in saddle). Prince Victor cut out his two miles in smin 52Asec, but Sea Foam occupied 6min ljsec to negotiate the same distance.

I think there is now very little doubt in regard to Plumpton Park ultimately proving a very paying concern. It is a rendezvous the public seems to appreciate, and but for the cricket match at Lancaster Park, a very big crowd of people would undoubtedly have patronised it on Saturday. Loveshot pulled up a bit lame the other day, but his legs show no symptoms of giving way Dumlop was like that at one time ; he got lame very frequently, but always walked it off.

Abel Tasman is in physic in view of being strung up for the C J.C. Autumn meeting. It is such horses as Abel Tasrnan that are most directly affected by the lack of minor racing. Both Norton and Kulnine are in steady work in viuw of National time, no doubt, and both are in most excellent health. Such a pair of "leppers" are rarely seen in one stable here, and with Cajolery also in his string Lunn has a trio of jumpers that few, if any. New Zealand trainers have had at one time previously. Philson and Ultimatum are both going very well, and both will carry silk at the C.J.C. Autumn meeting. One will contest the Champagne and the other the Challenge Stakes, but though his horses are as well as they need be at present, I do not think Topham is very sanguine of winning that double.

Miss Lord is being given a good bit of steady work, and now she is getting a bit of condition on her she seems a fairly decent kind of mare. Like Abel Tasman, though, she is one of the class that suffers from a lack of minor racing. Versailles is in steady work, but he will not be wanted before the spring. He is filling out and improving in looks, but he appears to be a tricky gentleman, and Jim Webb seems to know it. At anyrate he gets up himself sometimes. Though she is a very hard- puller, and one that does not pull too long, Roaeguard can travel to

some purpose, and it is about time she won a race for Butler now. She is veiy well at present, and I shall not bo surprised to see her to the fore at the C. J C. Autumn meeting. Ivanhoe is still in steady work, and no doubt it is thought he will win a race about National time. He is hardly one of a sort, however, that much money will be made out of.

It appears that Walter Jackson will have charge ot Vogengang during Sheenan's absence at Dunedin. Strath Braan is still in Walter's charge, and he seems to have picked up a bit lately ; he is not unlikely to strip at the Autumn meeting as fit and as well as ever we have seen him.

Old Erin-go-Bragh is still in active work, and no doubt it is expected to get another race or two out of him ere ho be broken in in view of cart shafts.

The bay colt by Artillery from Lavender, now in training at Riccarton, is a loose-made, niceish sort, with plenty of weight-carrying capacity. I do not particularly care for him to follow, but he will be a useful horse all the same. He was being exercised with Mehmna this (Monday) morning, and, though quite a baby yet at the galloping game, he gives the impression of one that will move well. He is the only horse Thomson has got in training at present. The Winchman is being spun along in view of something, and he is weli enough at present, but he is a long way from the horse his appearance indicated when he was broken in.

Though Balquither has got a big leg he will pay for training. He is not a bad horse, and he looks in really good health now. When he was last at Riccarton he was very unfortunate, but he may have more luck this journey. When here in the spring nothing but bad luck prevented his c coring. He was highly tried on two or three occasions.

Black Cloud is not turning out as well as she promised to when first brought to Chokebore Lodge, but I fancy she is on the improving side at present. Were that mare really well I think she would be very fast over sprint courses.