CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2231, 3 December 1896, Page 33

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Br VL Quad. Culverin was offered for sale at Tattersall's on Saturday, but waß passed in at 200gs. Black Eaglo was also submitted, but failed to find a purchaser, 55gs -being the best offer for him. Both of the animals are owned by Mr H. Vallance. Multiform's successes in the south were naturally anticipated here, and although the colt did uot pay large dividends, almost every backer got on to him, with the result that the colt's victories were bad ones for the ring. Some months ago I mentioned how absurd it Was for backers to accept such prices as were on offer for the New Zealand Cup, and particularised the wager taken about Black and Red's chance. At; the time I was unaware that, the wager was the result of a .toss ; and would not now revive the sabject if it were not for the fact that the backer has repudiated the wager. Cases like these should undoubtedly be referred to some tribunal for settlement, as, although betting is not legally recognised, it certainly occupies a very prominent portion of racing life, and should be fairly decided by an independent body. I notice that a letter has been published in a Wellington paper over the signature of Yuille aud Co., comparing the machine prices with the odds on offer and laid by that firm over the New Zealand Cup. I have no desire whatever to enter into a discussion aB to which is the brst method for an owner or heavy backer to adopt, but surely it is a most unfair compirison to publish the prices laid months before the decision of the race with those paid by the machine on the day. Ths only decently fair comparison would be the odds on offer the night before the Cup. I know that at this time it was extremely difficult to back Euroclydon at all at any price, nearly every penciller declining to do business. A li&t showing over-night prices would not, perhaps, present much difference between the prices bookmakers were offering and the totalisator odds ; but it would, I submit, be much fairer than the method adopted by Yuille and Co. So far as I can gather nothing has besn done with reference to the clashing of dates of the Tinwald Racing Club and the Canterbury Trotting Club, both of which are set down for January 1. I hope the two clubs will come to some understanding on the point, as some hundreds of Christchurch sports were wont to travel to Tinwald who will probably stay at home this year. The nominations for the West Coaet meetinga show that a large number of Canterbury animals have been entered, and, providing the handicaps are satisfactory, most of them will go across the ranges. Quiltiri, Belligerent, Arquebus, and Marino are almost sure to make the trip, but I cannot ascertain anything definite regarding Starshot and Clarence. The dividends have been paid out on Tangi Maid in the Novel Race and Arline in the Grand Stand Handicap. Many backers supported theee animals on their running on the first day. Mlssfire was wired here as a real good thing for the Farewell Handicap. Choroid must have made a vast improvement lines running at the O J.C. meeting. Some time ago I stated that I thought he would turn out a bit mote reliable than his dam, CuUb's luck has.

not been in the ascendant of late ; perhaps it wil now take a turn for the better. I hope so. There are many people under the impression that Sir Lancelot is as good a colt as Multiform, and cite the running in the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton to prove their case. The accounts given vary a good deal, some stating that it was Sir Lancelot who tackled Multiform half way up tha straight and succeeded in finishing a dead heat with Mr Stead's colt. This is not correct. It w*s Sir Lancelot who was in front, and when Multiform tackled him the northern colt came again. I stated at the time that as the race was run Sir Lancelot should have won, but the boy w*s caught napping on Mr Ormond's colt. Had Multiform got away with Sir Lancelot, he would have beaten him easily. However, the latter ia a good colt, and seeing that he is out of old Idalia, of whom it may be naid that sh« never produced a bad one, I should not be surprised if, with Dreadnought to help him, Sir Lancelot proved superior to Multiform as a three and four year old. He is not nearly so good-looking as Multiform, but as he h bred on splendid staying lines, he is sure to be dangerous when more seasoned. The fact that Sir Lancelot's dam was not by any means youthful when she foaled may not be in the colt's favour, but, on the other hand, Dreadnought may be fairly considered to have been in his prime. The old adage that it is difficult to stop a good horae was amply borne out by the running of Euroclydon at the Forbury, the buccobs of Hippomenes helping to amply prove this. At Christchurch the big horse never had a chance with Lady Zetland. I fancy he must have been improved by his gallops here, as also was Epauleb. This latter,colt will be heard of before the season is over, or I shall be much mistaken. I notice that at Mr Morrin's annual sale of yearlings at Auckland a full sister to Multiform and Uniform is to be offered. There should be *ome competition for this young lady, and I Rhould not be surprised to find her an inmate of Yaldhurat.. Last week I commented on the action of the Lancaster Park stewards for re-handicapping Ham. I then stated my opinion that these gentlemen had no authority to rehandicap beaten horses, and I can scarcely conceive that they did so on any other ground than to make a good betting race for the public. The idea that the stewards desired to sit on the owner of Ilani is too absurd to need refutation. Wh*>n the Park programme was submitted for approval to the South Island Trotting Association, a clause was attached to it giving the stewards power to re* vise the handicap of any horse doing better time than that on which it was handicapped. The association, if it noticed the clause at all, would only understand it as applying to winners, which is provided for in the rules. I submit that this view is the only sensible one to take. If the Lancaster Park stewards relied on their clause to rehandicap Ham, why did they not use the same, power regarding other animals? Ham proved herself almost if not quite the equal of I ittle Willie in their race at Plunipton, and if the Lancaster Park ofnoiah desired to make the haudicap a f»ir one s.B between the two, why penalise Little Willie 28sec and Ham 19sec? This rehandicapping only shows, in my opinion, that the handicappers found the carrying out of their instructions extremely distasteful, and unmistakably insinuated that they did not like their task. The ' rotting Association will doubtless keep a sharp look-out in future for any clauEO3 iv programmes which are not in accordance with its rules, as it is absurd to allow any club to insert its Own conditions. So far nothing definite has been done with reference to awarding the stake won by Little Willie at Plurapton, the authorities waiting for information as to that horse's identity before deciding the protest entered by the owner of Item. ' The Pam Slick-Dexterina dispute is alto in abeyance. Surely some decision should Jmve been arrived at ere this. ' Mr T. -Walker has- refused several tempting' offers for the colt by Vikinoc out of Mistake. Tho latter was a fairly useful mare. She was sired by «ld Perkin Warbeck, and the cross with the Childe Harold horse has produced a very nice youngster. A four-year-old brother to 8«m Slick has been purchased on behalf of a West Coast buyer. Mr V. Harris has purchased Belligerent for £100. This makes the second sale effected since the C.J.O. meeting of animals trained by Me Murray- Aynsley. Salvo is to be turned out for a spell. He will probably be gelded. It seems that wo have seen the last of Lady Zetland so far as racing is concerned. Better to l&t the little mare retire now than to race her until beaten by second-class animals, a fate which befell Merrie England and Prime Warden. There are many who have complained about the long starts given to the trotters Budd D.oble and Virginia in their recent engagements at the Plumpton and Lancaster Park meetings. This is somewhat undeserved, the handicappers being unable on form to do aught else. The credit of bringing these two trotters to their present perfection undoubtedly belongs to Angus, who succeeded m improving both horses nearly 30sec in two miles. As a matter of fact, I heard a wellknown tvainer say that neither Virginia nor Budd Doble were fast enough to put in a butcher's cart Without in the slightest degree deprecating the ability of other trainers— and we have many good ones here— l believe Angus is one of the most painstaking and successful in Canterbury. Gillie has been blistered, and is to be treated to a lengthened spell. His last effort in the Curragh Steeplechase left him terribly sore, and it is a moot point whether he will ever again stand " the 'ammer, 'ammer on the 'ard 'igh road." The Riccarton tracks have been almost deserted during the past week. Moat of the animals in ' training have been on a vißit to Dnnedin, where, lam pleased to say, some of them succeeded. in picking up a little wintor bread and cheese and iruit for their respective owners. Tikaro has been blistered and turned out, Mr Millar is now training Little Willie. Ducheis was wired here as worth an investment in the Trot decided at the Forbury on Saturday. ' I have jeveral times advocated that the local trottiDg clubs should amalgamate with the object of obtaining a good ground in a central position, thereby making one powerful clnb instead of bo many small ones. Nearly all the clubs have substantial bank balances to their credit, and if these sums were put together they would form an amount quite sufficient to make a good start. In a place liko Christfhurch, where plenty of splendid sites can bo obtained, it would cost very little to lay out a good track. I hope some of the trotting men will try to carry such a scheme into effect. Jf a really good ground could be got, with a strong executive to watch over the interests of the sport, I feel sure a most desirable advance would be made for the trotting owners and public. There are several grounds at present used which might be utilised, and I think it behoves the various clubs to put aside small jealousies and do their best to obtain what I have suggested. If a really good, properlybuilt mile track could be laid down, with room for training operations, I am positive it would prove of great benefit to all connected with the sport, and would enable the best of our horses to prove of what they are capable, which they are now unable to do on some of our present cramped tracks. It would surely be better for everybody concerned if the whole of our trotting meetings were held on one ground. I intend to return to this subject later on, and in the meantime would ask all supporters of trotting to give the mattes their consideration. ,