CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 33

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Br M. Quab.

I think it is a pity that the C.J.C. has not adopted the coupling system. Whilst owners have a right to be considered, equally so have backers, and as the last-named provide the major portion of the sinews of war I hope that the metropolitan club will see its way to alter their existing rule. The hunting season opened ou Saturday, when U fair number rolled up. In connection with the duqualification of the bone Homeward by the Akaroa County Raciug Club, and which came before the Trotting Association, a point cropped up which itmight be aswdll for the next conference -of trotting clubs to settle. The owner of Homeward appealed against hia dkqualification, but as he did not enclose the necessary fee the association tightfully adjourned the whole question until he had been Riven an opportunity of doing to The point is this : Can Homeward be trottdd at any ether meeting while this case is pending? It was the opinion of ths memben of the association that he could until the association has endorsed the disqualification. This is the rule adopted 'by racicg clubs, but something should be done to avoid this, as a dishonest owner might keep on asking for adjournments on various pretexts so as to enable him to carry on his nefarious practices. After the final payments for the Juvenile Stakes, of 24030V8, to be run at the May meeting of the Canterbury Trotting Olub, the following horses remain in :— ** Mr F. Mulholland's eh g Scrutineer, by Electioneer Trissie Mr H. Mace's eh f Jessie Palm, by Rothschild— Messenger Maid Mr H. Mace's eh f Candidate, by Electioneer— Maggie L Mr C. Kerr's r or g f Lady Elector, by Electioneer—Lady Agnes. Mr J. Philips's b c Spectator, by Specification — Bosetta. Mr Busch intends offering Boulanger and Camel for sale on Weduesday next. The son of Grand Prix is now being trained by F. Holmes, and appears as though he will stand. He is very big, of course, but shows no sign of unsound ness. , The local bookmakers have once lnore formu lated a set of rules governing betting. A few of the clauses speak for themselves :—": — " All North Island meeting (trots), £'l." Kapai ! " Meetingson We&tr Coa&t (flat), £5 " Arquebus ! Most of the clauses are fair enough, and after reading them no one is obliged to back with the books. Since the South Island Trotting Association was formed it has not been allowed to remain idle ; indeed it is astonishing the amount of business it is called upon to transact. I think it will be generally admitted that the association has done remarkably good work, too, and has proved beyond doubt. how necessary it is that such a tribunal should exist. This was never better exemplified than when called upon to review the action of the New Brighton Trotting Club in connection with the disqualification by that club of Mr T Walker and his mare Annie Rooney. The mare started in a mile saddle event, finishing nowhere, the race being won by D .isy in £mm 50=ec. Annie Rooney was brought out again in the next event — the Final Handicap, one mile, in harness,— and won in 2min 68sec. Nigger, driven by D. Price, finished second, and a protest was entered on his behalf against Annie Rooney on the ground of inconsistency. After a short inquiry, the stewards decided to adjudicate on the following evening. The result was the disqualification of Annie Hooney and her owner during the pleasure of the

club, the stewards at the same time ordering the totalisator to pay out on Nigger. Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin had paid nut three dividends ou JS'iggar, when they received notice not to pay out on that horse until they received further in&truc- ' tions. This was deemed a necessary precaution , ou account of a legal request not to pay out on Nigger on account of a pendiug appeal to the i association by the owner of Annie Rooney It is qaite unnecessary for me to go into the case at great length, as the evidence given bufore the association tell*, its own tale, aud a very pretty i story it i"=. Mr Walker slated that, after the New Brighton Club's decision, one of the adjudicating stewards said to him, " Well, Tom, old man, I did the best I could for you ; but I had no chance Better luck next time." "Better luck j next time," replied Walker. "Do you think is I is a fair thing to back Nigger for £50, as you I did, and thus use your vote to disqualify my ' in-iie so that you could get your dividend." ' " Well," said the stewaid, " I had lost £200 before i that race, and I got ' the spike,' and put £50 ou I Nigger." This statement was corroborated by Mr i Morrinon, who was present when the conversa ! tion above leforred to took place. Mr Walker i also stated before the association that lip could 1 produce plenty of witnesses to prove that his mare was badly interfered with in the saddle event, but that the New Brighton stewards were not app uently anxious to hi ar their evidence. That ' this was so was proved by Mr Sullivan, rider of Kentucky Maid, who detailed to the association the manner of the interference. It was aUo ■ shown to the satisfaction of the association that theie was no inconsistency in- the two performances of Annie Kooney, and finally the .*SBociation decided to uphold the appeal to pay out the totalisator' money on Annie Kouaey, and that it i viewed with displuasure '.he fact that stewards f who betted &übbequently sat and disposed of the I dividend to ttieir own benefit. I believe the l verdict of the association was a just oue. That i the performances of Annie Rooney were incon- ' sistt-nt there cannot be a doubt, but after listenine carefully to the evidence tendered I am of opinion tnat the mare's inglorious display in the saddle race was fully explained. In ju.-tice to the steward who put £50 on Migger, I may &ay that he at niat refused to sit in judgment on the ground that he was pecuniarily interested, aud I am sorry that ho allowed other people to persuade him that he ought to Htteno. That he made a mistake his best fiiends will admit, aud no one coiud fairly defend him. 1 ma) aay, however, that this steward has been a consistent and heavy backer for yeais, nun, inort-o\ei, can afford to put £50 ou a h'>rse where auother would put on £1, and it is just possible that his £50 investment would not weigh more withhuninconiiug to a decision than it wouln with the nian with £l ou. This same steward has repe«teiily put money on for other people, and part of the £50 may have b^on inI vested for someone else. It was said at the meet1 ing of the association that he stated that 5s was , the amount of his investment on \igger, but Mr Hobb*. showed that he put £50 on, aud so far as the case was concerns! it mattuied little to the tissociation whose money it was— thib steward put it on. Unfortunately for this gentlemau, he ha 1 ! ' been found out, but, objectionable as hu conduct was. there are other stewards a great deal worse. I canuot possibly defend this stewaid, but I would sooner trust him than kome others I dare not n.une In writing thus I belicvt- some of the New Brighton stewards are as stiaight as one could find in the iaukß of any tiott'iig executive. The statement su knitted to by New Brighten club hhowed that cue steward voted in Annie RooneyV favour bo far as the state was concerned, and then proposed the mare's! for a year. i his at first sight seems inexplicable, but on makitig inquiry I find that when this wtewurd found that the stike was awarded to Nigger ho challenged tho^e who hi.d voted for Nigger to cuiy their verdict to its loET.ru] condition And duqualify Walker and ! Annie Rooney, "for," said he, "if W.ilkeris guilty then the taking a way of the itake is it quite inadequate punishment. a-> he can go and do the ' same thing at the uirxt meeting." ' If," said the gentleman, " you do not vote in favour of my motion you *ay in effect that the hnr o e alone is to blame for alleged crooked running." This case has done a great deal foimp^nl the existence i>f the New Brighton Trotting < Hub, and it m^y not find the association particularly anxious to grunt, a permit; unless more, than one nine is lem^ved from the steward's list New Brighton is ouu of thu best J tracks in he coloitj-, and I hope that un'il tiot1 ting is centralised tueetiugs will be held there. This Annie Rooney case also shows mobt conclusively tho ' ecessity of a>>p -iatiug protest stewards, who should adjudicr.tr ou all trote, no matter where hi'ld, .wi who should not be under the control of Any club. The Lancaster Park Trotting Club was not favoured by the rlement^ on Saturday, ?nd the cold south-west wind undoubtedly curtailed tho attendance Tho speculation necessarily fell short of anticipations, the weather aud the short limits being responsible therefor. The track was in fair order, but no pbeiinmeual times were registered. The orticials deserve ere" it for their efforts during the afti-rnoon, «nd a sharp look-out was kept for breakers of the rules, with the result that several parsons were carpeted This action will have a most beneficial effect, aud if the stewards would appoint some of their number to take up positions at intervals round tho track, especially at the turns, they would be able to discover several little things, which drivers and riders would doubtless be extremely glud to explain. Mr C. O'Connor's starting was first class. Although no record-breaking was witness-'d, the trotting shown was of a high order, and Itio could but feel flattered at the round of applause which greeted him and his hor^e Sam Slick after their winning association in the Limit Handicap. Prince Imperial declined his engagement in this race (he would probably have won had he started), and General Tracey was looked upon as abput the best of those running in harness. Monte Carlo and The Duchess (the only two to tiot in saddle) were well supported but although The Duchess trotted well for the ttr^t few laps the sharp turns did not suit such a long-striding mare, atH at the end of a mile she had dropped behind Monte Cailo. Sam Slick trotted well from the start, and despite two breaks, steadily gained on the leaders. Pastime and General Tracy went well in sections, but neither weie ever dangerous. Commencing the last half mile Monte Carlo, who was evideutly tiring, was 10 lengths in front of Sam Slick, The Duchess close up. Half way round the last lap Sum Slick broke, and The Duchess momentarily headed him. Sam Sliclr, however, quickly got to work again, and trotting I in fine style soon passed Monte < 'arlo, finally winning easily. Pastime was pulled up The ' stewards as-ked the driver of General Tracey for an explanation of the bad form shown by tho horse, but ultimately decided not to interfere. j Ham Slick trotted the two miles in sm in 1553 ec, ! and paid 4%5. ! Rockwood just won the Maiden Saddle Handi- : cap from Minnie May, after a capital contest. Coral broke lepeatedly, and thh fact lost her the race, ultimately finishing just outside the distance. Doreen was well backed, but failed to trot up to | preliminary form, with the result that the stewards cautioned the driver. I Mambrino Abdallah was withdrawn from the i Pony Harness Handicap, aud as Uncle Tom i would not go under the standard only Destiny, Dorothy, and Ruby II went out. Dorothy really won all the way, the other two never having the ghost of a chance. Pansy 8., Biddy-Biddy, Maggie, Nero, Katipo, ana Jessie started for the Autumn Handicap, in saddle, of whom Jessie was made a hot favourite. This mare got well away. and bo <ii established a fair lead, with Katipo, Nero, and Maggie following in that order. At the end of a mile Katipo and Biddy-Biddy were done with, whilst Nero was | surely overhauling Jesgie A lap and a-half from i the chair, Nero, ou the outside, had passed Jessie, but going up when taking up inside running, the lattsr again went on in front. Neio wa3 not to be denied, but at exactly the same spot again broke when crossing Jessie. He retained his position, however, and sailing away, won easily. I A protest for inconsistency as compared with I Nero's New Brighton performance, and also on the ground of crossing, was dismissed and the deposit i forfeited. Xero paid £8 t!s, and trotted the two miles in smin 17sec. At New Brighton Nero (15^ec) finished second to Daisy (25sec) in the Telegraph Handicap, one mile, won in 2min 50sec. The North Island horsea Jersey and Alertonhad the finish of the open Saddle Handicaa to them.

selves. Both trotted splendidly, but Jersey just failed to give Alerton 12sec. Alerton won in imiin 25Jsec, aud as Jersey ttuifhed close up it will be seen what kind of performance the Noith Islander put up The rider of Alerton was cautioned for a too free exhibition of his whip. Piiuce Imperial, Utah, and Katipo were scratched for the Easter Handicap. Sam Slick, Mambrino Abdallah, and Ruadau were the only starters, and the last-uameil, trottiDß steadily throughout, won fairly easily from Mambrino Abdallah, with Sam rilick not far away. Rtiidan has never previously trotted so steadily, this being due probably to the fact that the other two failed to reach him. Mambrino AbdalUh looked as though he would win when half way round the last lap, but breaking spoilt what gave promise of a slashing fini«h with Ruadan. The winner has been v sore dieappotntuieut to his connections, and his success will not be begiudged him. Ruadan's time was sinin lOJsec. Lorine, on the limit, got well away, and trotting with less breaks thau usual, lasted just long enough to defeat Maggie, whocame through very fast from her back mark Maggie only just misse ' the prize. Huce purchased by her present owner after winning at Hororata, Maggie has tiotted .very well, and has several times been apparently able to score, but has not done so. Prince Imperial showed great pac" in the Dash Handicap, in harness, but although he trotted at ii gre*t pace he just failed to reach Berlin Maid, the Wt-named going well from the beginning Another 10 yardw and Prince Imperial would have won. Little Willie was never dangerous, and the panic remark applies to tha remainder of the . field.