CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2198, 16 April 1896, Page 31

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Br M. Quad. i

April 13. It is said that Ilex had never scea a starting machine until he faced one here, with the result that as soon as the tapes were released he whipped round. It is therefore argued by many that all horses should have every opportunity of seeing the machine at work aB often as possible. This seemß . at first sight to be a fair assumption, but whilst I f quite agree that it is absolutely necessary with youngsters, I do not think it advisable to practise* old animals at the barrier. I have often watched this practising, and it al waj s struck me that it~was radically wrong to jump a horse off at full speed, and then pull him up aa soon as he gets going. If, on the other hand, a horse never faced the machine till he was wanted, he would know exactly what was expected of him. I can conceive no better method to assist a horse to glow cunning than this useless practising at the starting barrier. Mainstay is slightly lame, and has not done much during the last week. R. Frame brought two two-year-olds to Eiccarton last week, one by Tasman—Galatea, and the other by Stoaeyhurst —Alsace. For the South Canterbury Meeting, which takes place on Thursday, I fancy the following, without an acceptance : —High-weight Handicap, Sftlvo Shot, Speculator, and Lobo, in that order ; Washdyke Welter, Supplejack or Remorse II; Autumn Handicap, Lord of Misrule or Oulverin; Flying Handicap, Warrington or Vanilla; Tiinaru Trot, Sam or Baltimore. Very few of the lots submitted for sale at Tattersali's on Wednesday changed hands. Quiltiri »nd Marino were both passed in at £175 and £140 respectively; and Thtee Chsers at £33, St. Julian at £23, and Beatrice at £23, were also withdrawn. Goodwood ww sold »t 14g?, a yearling filly by St. George —Diadem at sgs, a Chainshot—Veno filly at 6gs, a Chainehot—Miranda filly at 13Jga, a Chainshot—Venus- colt at 20gs ; Diamem, with colt foal by St. George, at £35, the I hunter Sir Isaac at Higß. I The following amounts have been paid in connection with the Autumn meeting: —Mr Stead, £1268 5s ; the Hon. J. D. Ormond,- £959 16s ; Mr Vallanoe, £456 ; Mr Hobbs, £147 5s ; Mr Curran, £133 ; Mr Mercer, £114; Mr Fitzgerald, £95; Mr M'Guinness, £71 5s ; Mr D. Rutherford, £47 10s; Mr Popham, £23 10a ; the *Hon. G. M'Lean, £28 10s ; Mr Gollan, £19; Mr J. A. Holme*, £9 10s ; Mr Friedlsnder, £9 10s; Mr Craig, £9 10s ;— total, £3396 ss. The work of pulling down the old offices at Riccarton, to make way for the new stand, is to be commenced this week. Mr Stead took the largest cheque from the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting, and had ihe misfortune io Jose the Fourth Challenge Stakes, which was one of the biggest morals for Bombshell it would be possible to conceive; but he came just too late. Bannby struck himself ju»t before the Autumn meeting, hence bis withdrawal from all engagements. I hear that Prime Warden showed his trainer a real good gallop over the Great Autumn Handicap distance a fortnight previous to the decision of that race, but that he went off before the day. I can scarcely believe this, but my authority for the statement is fairly good. Whilst leading Golden Fleece round the paddock at Riccaiton on Tuesday the boy got too near Solitaire's heels, with the result that one of his arms was severely biuised, and his cheek grazed. Mr H. Vallance bought the two-year-old gelding Black Eagle at Mr Stead's sale on Wednesday. He is a big, rough-looking customer, but his breeding, by Medallion from Enid, ie good. He should prove a bargain at 30gs. I hear that the party behind Vanilla greatly fancied her chance in the Easter Handicap, and laid their plans accordingly. They had the misfortune to meet a busk in Culverin, but got alittle back next day, when Vanilla won the Templeton Handicap. » It has been decided to give Skirmisher a rest. Given decent weather at almost any race meeting and the totalisator investments seem to get larger as the yeara roll on. At the C.J.C. Autumn meeting £3909 more were passed through the machines than at the corresponding meeting last year. Railway authorities occasionally show very little consideration for horse-owners. Several animals were boxed at Ashburton in time to go on to Christuhurch by the express, but for some reason they could not be taken home; consequently they had to wait till the following morning, which mtfans a considerable increase in the expense. Alice Azmoor is, I hear, to be given a temporary spell. The Canterbury Jockey Club asked a wellknown rider to interview them on Tuesday morning last, with the result that he was not allowed to ride for the remainder of the meeting. He had been drinking something stronger than water. Whilst the Canterbury Jockey Club decided to eject all known bookmakers from the Riccarton enclosure on Easter Tuesday, they might have gone a step further and stopped the operations of the bawling brigade outside. I noticed that this class of "silver, gold, or notes" riff-raff were allowed to carry on without let or hindrance. Au Revoir was very dotty after running at the Autumn meeting. The North Canterbury nominations are fairly good, although there are only six entered for tha big race. It seems to be usual at country meetings nowadays for the richest stake to have the least entrants. This might be altered, surely, especially when the same horses are also engaged in the minor events, so that it is not class that is being encouraged. Airgun and Errington were brought back from the north on Thursday. Trentalto, Basaie M'Carthy, Spindrift, Dauntleai, Hopeful, Solitaire, and two brood mares j were shipped on Thursday for Napier. It should be the aim of all racing club officials to obtain the respect of every owner, trainer, or jockey with whom they may be brought into con- . tact, and once this is obtained it is astonishing with what alacrity riders obey whatever is said to them. "If I start to fine some of you fellows," as the dark of the course at Ashburton constantly reiterated to the jockeys, " it will be nothing less than a fiver ; so come on." And then this gentleman would splash round the paddock, smotharing everybody within 10 yards of his horse with mud, and telt the boys once again, with an entirely misplaced hilarity, " that they would look very funny if he slipped a fiver into them." Horses trained by Mr Hobbs ran very badly at Aahburton. Prime Warden, Lord Zetland, and Bizarre all finished in the rear in their respective races. Heavy going, perhaps. <- The riders G. Smith and Leeson were each fined £2 and C. Harold £1 at Ashburton. Kulnine is once more at his old quarters —H. Lunn's—whence he will be trained for winter engagements. He is looking very big, but he is naturally a gra^-s horse. New Forest, who was withdrawn at 60ss at Mr Stead's sale, has been sold privately at, I understand, 200gs. Perkin Warbeck II mutt be a remarkably good stud horse. He seems to be able to sire all sorts, and it is getting quite common to see his stock racing and trotting at the same meeting. At Ashburton, for instance, Sam, who finished second to Prince Imperial, is by that horse; whilst Dandy (winner of the Pony Race)-and No Wonder (winner of the Novel Race) both claim Perkin Warbeck II as their sire. 'Lord Zetland is also by him. In addition to the above, who all competed at the meeting, there were some others who were withdrawn from thfir respective engagements who are by this sire—viz., Marquis of Zetland, Throne, and Lord Chatlea. The Ashburton Racing Club could not have much worse luck in the matter of weather than that experienced for its autumn meeting last Friday. Rain fell incessantly from the time racing commenced until the last race was decided. Scarcely any shelter could be obtained, and what little there was was quite inadequate. No refreshments of any description could be procured within the enclosure except that generously dispensed by ■the stewards, and luncheon was out of the question. The saddling paddock was a sea of mud, and the t»ck very heavy, and in places the

horses had to gallop through water. It was almost impossible to distinguish some of the runners, and taken altogether it would be hard to imagine a more depressing day. Riders were not easily obtained, as after one ride it was anything but pleaEant to don their g*ar. Christohurch provided a good number of visitors, and the authorities did all they could to make the unpleasant surroundings bearable. The sum of : £1325 was put through the machine by Messrs ! Mason and Roberts, which must be considered satisfactory under the circumstances. Cannonshot, although burdened with 910, showed his partiality to the heavy going by beating a fairly good fluid in the Netherby Highweight Handicap, but one of the others might have been closer had he been more vigorously han filed. Warrington woj only beaten by a head, with Madicus, who carried 21b overweight to secure Derrett's services, a fair third. Seven others started, of whom Salvo Shot, Fore King, and Miss Orwell were the best. The Laghmor Trot (saddle or harness) was a soft thing for D. Price's Price Imperial, who was the only one in harness. The same owner's Nigger led for a mile and a-half, when bis stable mate passed him, as also did Sam, who finished 30yds behind the winner. Prince Imperial is out of the well-known trotting mare Princess (who proved what a good one she was a few years ago),- by Hamblctonian Bell Boy. He is a fine brown horse, and is one of the truest pacers I have Been in Canterbury. Nigger's performance was not a good one, and he puled up lame. Lord of Misrule could sc rcely be held slow enough to make a decant finish of it in the Easter Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. He made all his own running, and despite Prime Warden's attempt to catch him at the top of the straight, and a like effort of Salvo 100 yds from home, the King Cole horse cantered in by' six lengths from Butler's horse, with Prime Warden last. Dandy, who is by Perkin Warbeck II out of a Knottingly mare (not a half-draught, as previously reported), carried top weight in the Pony Race, and fairly walked away with the stake. He is a particularly smart pony, and seems to be invincible on all sorts of tracks. Mania was the only one near him at the finish. Thß peculiarly named The Filly was made a warm favourite for the Novel Kaco, but the heavy going completely extinguished her chances, and she could only finish third to No Wonder and Rotomahan*, the former of whom won easily, and paid the best dividend of the day— £l3 7s. Only four contested the Grove Farm Handicap, seven furlongs, Lord Zetland being made a slightly better favourite than Magazine. Nicholas and the penalised Lord of Misrule made the running until well in the straight, when Magazine came at them, and quickly settling both, ran home comfortably, winning by two lengths from Lord of Misrule, Nicholas close up. The favourite was never prominent. He may do better next week. Arahura easily beat eifcht others in the Springfield Trot, one mile, Barney O'Hea being his nearest a tendant. After Warrington'B display behind Cannonshot iv the Netherby High- weight Handicap,~he was made favourite for the jast it-m on the card— the Allenton Handicap, six furlongs Warrington was last entering the straight, but halfway home was runniug fide by side with Miss Orwell and Fire King, and the Gorton horse had to be ihakon up in the last few strides to beat Miss Orwel by a head, Fire King third, and Magazine fourth.