CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 36

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By M. Quad.

The Summer meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club ha»alway3 been looked upon as a kind of qff day, the events decided thereat being usually confined to local hordes. Financially, the gathering has never been a success — that is, compared with the other meetings of the clubV Various reasons have been advanced to account for this, but the club has now probably solved the problem ; at any rate, it has made an attempt to do so. At the club's meeting on Tuesday it was decided to extend the meeting over two days, the stakes to be offered amounting to £2010. This is a big increase on the £900 previously given, and I fancy sportsmen will agree with the depavture. Two dyas' racing should attract a much larger entry iv proportion than has been the case in the past, and although a few local owners may not like the altered programme, it cannot really be to their disadvantage to have substantial stakes offered them. The events, too, have evidently been carefully arranged, and owners of hurdle horses will be pleased to observe tb,at each day opens with a hurdle race. This is as it should be. The North Island has catered successfully for this class of sport, whilst clubs in this Island have somewhat neglected it. Ido not blame the C. J.O. nor any other southern club for this, as few owners make much effort to induce clubs to put hurdle races on their lists. The Canterbury Jockey Club, by placing two hurdle i aces oa its Summer meeting programme, has given South Island owners a solid inducement to develop the jumping abilities of their horses ; and let me hope that ere long we shall not have to regard the North Island as the home of the jumper. The Champion Plate, to be decided on the second day, and which is endowed to the extent of £300. i«, to my thinking, one of the best items on the club s yearly programme. The race is run over a mils and a-quarter, for. tbree-year-olds and upwards, weight for age. I have frequently advocated a reduction of the Canter bury Cup distance to a mile and three-quarters o a mile and a-nalf, and though there are weighty reasona to be urged why this sJhould not be done, I am particularly pleated that such a race as th.9 Champion Plate is to be decided at our Summer meeting. I should have preferred the race to bo run over a mile and a-half , but a mile and a-quarter weight-for-age contest is b mnd to prove a most attractive item. There will be eight events each day. The Lyttelton Plate, for two-year-olds, has been increased in value from £50 to £120, the Graven Plate from £120 to £150. The principal new events, beyond the Champion Plate, are the Linwood Welter Handicap, of lOOsovs ; St Albans Handicap, one mile, 200sovg ; Richmond Plate, of lOOsovs, for two-year-olds; and a. five-furlong Flying Handicap, of £120. About £300 more will be given in. stakes at the Spring meeting of the C.J.C. The Juvenile Plata has been raised from £250 to £300, the Spring Nursery from £150 to £200, Jockey Club Handicap from £3CO to £400, the Avon Welter from £120 to £150, and the Farewell Handicap from £120 to £150. At the Autumn meeting the Epsom Welter has beeu altered from £120 to £150, the Templeton Handicap from £120 to £200, Autumn Nursery from £120 to £150, and Final Handicap from £120 to £150. The Grand National Hurdle E.ace and Steeplechase have, as previously stated, been raised to £500 and £»iSO respectively. It will be seen that the club has laid out a programme necessitating the disbursement of nearly £2000 more than last year. The alterations are as follow :— 1896-97. 1897-98. Grand National Meeting ... £1,735 £2,085' Metropolitan Meeting ... 6,6fi0 6,950 Rummer Meeting ... ... 900 2 040 Autumn Meeting 3,795 3,890 £13,090 £15,065 The committee also recommended that the Derby and Oiks of 1899 should be increased to £1000 and £400 respectively, no increase being made in the payments demanded from owners. It was also thought desirable to reduce the, entry and acceptance fees in some instances, notably for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps. The recommendations of the committee were duly adopted. The following recommendations made by the Course Committee were adopted :— (1) To increase the stall accommodation in horse yards near saddling paddocks, and erect 10 new stalls. (2) To erect a room suitable for an' accident ward. (3) To request Mr Stead to obtain a new number board and semaphores. (4) To carry out the present fence at the back of the lawn, so as to be uniform with the increase in the carriage paddock. (5) To obtain new gates at the grand stand entrauce. Owners' permits were granted to W. Mason, F. Beker, and B. Wynn-Williams. Transfers were registered from J. If. Reid to J. A. M'Guinness, b t Refugee, by Stepniak— Huguenot ; E. Gates to M. Hobbs, eh g Dundas, by Perkin Warbeck ll— Reverie, a rider's license was granted to G. Murray-Aynsley. The question cropped up as to whether a person training horses on half-shares and holding an owner's permit was qualified as an amateur rider. The committee considered under the new rule the holder of an owner's permit could not ride as amateur. A vote of £5 was granted to Adam King out of the distressed j jockeys' fund. The following weve the successful tenderers for the privileges for the coming season :— Publican's booth, P. Burke ; tea room, Jame3 Freeman ; refreshment booth outside, J. Minchinton ; fish and fruit, Mrs Columbus. At the annual meeting of tbe Plumpton Park Racing and Trottiog Club a member asked the meaning of the item "Liberty League, £3 3s" which appeared in the balance sheet. A reply was given which did not seam to explain the connection between the club and the league. I can understand racing clubs devoting some of their surplus cash to deserving charities, but why a political body should be given £3 3s out of tbe funds I cannot discern. The only reason, so far as I could make out, was that the league supported the publicans, and as the latter, class usually occupied booths on racecourses, the donation would help on the good work. The Plumpton Park Club decided, by four to three, that for the ensuing year their business should be conducted in rooms in Duncan's Buildings. The Canterbury Trotting Club, Lancaster Park Trotting Club, New Brighton Trotting Club, and Plumpton Club now conjointly occupy these rooms', and there can be no doubt that the new departure will meet with the approval of all having trotting business to transact. The rooms are in the cpnfcre of the busiest part of the city, and easily found. Several members of the Plumpton Park Club, at the annual meeting, spoke highly of the treatment the members bad received at the hauds of Mr J. Carl, of tbe Empire Hotel, the previous headquarters of the club. Bracelet, the speedy daughter of. Medallion and Adulation, who has been running out at her owner's place 'at Springfield for some weeks, will be put into work again during the next fortnight. Mr Cassidy tella me that Bracelet has filled out a great deal since being turned out, and gives every sign that the spell has been most beneficial. ' The trip of Mauser and Belligerent to Wellington was not a profitable one. It was generally thought that one or both might score, but neither was so fortunate. The first-named was heavily supported here for all hi? engagements. If any Hue can be taken from their northern display, Mauier and Belligerent will have to improve a

great deal to have a «hance in the New Zealand Uup. Betting on the New Zealand Cup has been remarkably good, all the pencillers informing me that in no previous year has so much business been transacted on the declaration of weights. What does this mean? Is it a tribute to Mr Heory, or is it a sign that there is plenty of money about ? Of the horses at Riccarton engaged in the New Zealand Cup, Skirmisher and Marquis of Zetland are doing well, the latter being anxious to improve the pace set him by Mr Hobbs. The ariatocratically-named colt is a terribly hard puller. Culverin is supposed to be doing well at her owner's place, and Bloomer is slipping along in a taking manner. Inchcape ha* not yet been asked to do much, fast work, but 13 well ; as also are Addington and Chaos both of whom will need to show a lot of improvement if they arc to start in the Cup. Epaulet seenii to be very well, as also does his stable companion St. Cyr. Diequietiug rumours were current on Saturday to the effect that the Hazel colt was not as he should be, but a reliable informant tells me that the colt is all right. Messrs Man fan and Wilson, owners of the stud horses Imperious, Electioneer, and Sacramento, on Wednesday moved these animals from Middle Park to H. Thomson's establishment at Enfield, where they are comfortably housed. It has not yet been decided where the c standard-bred trotting hires will bo at the service of breeders next season. The decision of the English Appeal Court regarding bookmakers is naturally looked upon by local pencillers as a probable partial removal of the obstacles placed in their way by New Zealand racing clubs. It is, however, questionable whether any material advantage will be gained by bookmakers in the colony. It would scarcely aeein so, jjuiiging by reports from Auckland. White, a well-known trotiog trainer and driver, hailing from Sydney, recently arrived here, and is now in charge of Rothschild. Viking, and King Harold, the property of Mr W. Jardin. Local trotting meu could not understand how it was that' the trotting uony Velvet Rose was all »wed to Btarl at Tahuna Park. It was generally •thought, however, that those behind the pony had satisfied the stewards as to her antecedents. I now learn that as soon as Mr Rattray found that the pony was a likely starter at Tahuna Park he wired to Mr H. L. James, secretary of tfce Tahuna Park Trotting and Racing Club, inquiring as to the adrisableness of allowing the pony to start. Mr James replied by letter ag follows: — "I only received your telegram re Velvet Rose after she had utaned in Maiden (first race on 19th), and could oot answer from the course, as there was no wire on it. I enclose copy of declaration made by Gerkias, also receipt, from which you will see we were making inquiries about the mare before al'owiog her to start ; and after showing particulars to my chairman, he thought the evidence was sufficient under rules and allowed her , ■to star. If you know anything against Vdvet Rose I hope you will let me know particulars. Wired you this morning that we had received declaration." The declaration made by E. F. Gerkins, a copy of which Mr James forwarded to Mr Rattray, states that "' the brown in are Velvet Rose is either 6yrs or aged, and was br./ught over from Sydney some time prior to March 1896. She was bought there out of the s ley ards, and from thence came to Christchurch, ■where she changed hands. She started once at 'i'iunipton Park in March 1896 in the Pony Harness 'J rot. and was unplaced. I bought her from Mr Wm. Collie, produce merchant in Ohristchurch, who sold her to roe in good faith as a genuine maiden, without performances or starts, for the suni of £30 sterling, with provisions, , ?tceipt of which 1 hereby produce. As to her i breeding, she is supposed to be a Childe Harold. The mare I believe honestly to be a genuine maiden without starts of any sort prior to her ragagenient at Plumpton Park, and make oath to t.li*t effect." Gerkinß also claimed that if the stewards were satisfied, according to the rules of Trotting regarding foreign horses, that the dec'aration and receipt were sufficient evidence of Mentity, then the pony Velvet Rose should be allowed to start. The copy of the receipt read as follows :— "l'his is to certify that I have this day sold to Mr E. P. Gerkint one brown mare (pony) tiyra old or over, named Velvet Rose, for the sum of £40 sterling, £30 cash, receipt of which I hereby acknowledge, the balance £10 to be paid out of the first trot tiie said pony Velvet Rosa wins ; and I also certify that the "said pony has ' only started at one trot, and that being at "Plumpton Park in Christchurch in 1896. Signed W. Collie, 16/11/96." The following extracts are from a copy of letter writteu from Lauderdale, «nd dated 4/4/97, from E. F. Gerkins to William Co'ilie: — "Could you get me a purchaser, or would you purchase yourself the pony Velvet Rosethat.l bought of you last November. When I bought her I did so expecting Frank Laingto take her off Mie, &c, but to my surprise I had to keep hef my»elf. . . I did not bargain for this, and had to pay for her out of my own pocker, and this is more than I can afford ; besides, I am a bit afraid to ran her yet, -with the charge of her being a | 'ring-in' still over her. I could sell her down here pretty well, but then I am bound by my agreement to give you £10 if she wins a trot. .... I will let you have her for £23 " The above information has been supplied to me b"y Mr Rattray. Velvet Rose was allowed to start at Plumpton on the distinct understanding that proof of her identity would be forthcoming. Well, that proof has not yet turned up, and the pony b«s not since been allowed to start here. It is just a bit surprising that the Tahuna Park stewards allowed Velvet Rose to start on such flimsy evidence as the declaration and receipt. Neirther ifive the slightest clue to her identity, and, so far ] sir I can see, the southern stewards had no more j before them than was well known to the trotting ' authorities here, who declined to allow the pony tn start. The rule under which Gerkins claimed Velvet Rose should be allowed to start reads as f- llowb :—": — " No horse foaled out of the colony shall run for any race, tinder the rules of the association, until the owner has produced, to the satisfaction of the stewards, evidence of the Identity of the horse, a certificate of some racing «Z«& o/ the anmtry where the Iwrse was foaled, or from a magistrate residing therein, or a statutory declaration from some reputable person toiowiag the horse, stating the age, sex, pedigret, colour of tlie aorse, and the marks by which it is distinguished/ The italics are mine. Did the Tahuna Vark Club receive any satisfactory evidence as to the italicised piovisions? Unless all trotting clubs insist on the rules being subscribed to, trot--ting will undoubtedly fall once again into disre>ute. The action of the Tahuna Park Club dimply means that any ringer can trot here providing some one sees him and i&e buyer mates a declaration that "to the beet of his ability," Ac. I quite believe the southern stewards are as anxious as their Canteroury canf reres to purify trotting, but in the case of Velvet Roue they surely could not have read the rule quoted above. As to the declaration and the letter quoted by me, my readers can draw their own conclusions. I hear that a project is on foot to lay down a tramway to the racecourse. If such a scheme should eventuate, would it not be worth while to try and get a- good ground for trotting ? Now, then, Canterbury Trotting Club, you could not have a better opportunity to get a ground of your own. Why should not Lancaster Park join in and get a really fine track? The two club 3 have sufficient capital to ensure a successful start, and I am sure that all trotting men would welcome a combination of the tw.o for the purpose of obtaining a ground within reasonable distance of the city and to which the tramway ran. Arquebus, Kaiti, Highlander, Powder Monkey, Rain, Gillie, Chaos, Clarence, Bogenganjr, and Quiltiri are all shaping decently over the sticks, Arquebus and Quiltiri especially so. J. Frank?, who was injured when Quiltiri fell with him, is well on the road to recovery. Wedlock and Ghoroid are shaping very well indeed. Alcestis and E.angefinder are galloping fairly well, as also is the brother to Boreas. The Medallion—Enid colt looks well. The filly by Artillery out of Credulity is growing into a shapely youngster. She is located at Springfield, and her owner (Mr Cassidy) says that few would guess that Artillery was her sire, she is so unlike the generality of the breed. The Edward Brothers, the trotting trainers, cave recently had their establishment added to by the addition of a large number of well-venti-lated, roomy boxes, giving first-class accommoda-

tion. Their ability as trainers is well known, and it is to be hoped that ibeir enterprise will be rewardedbya stableful of trotters. A petition is being circulated amongst trotting men for presentation to the Greymouth Trotting Club with the object of gcttiDg the disqualification removed from A. Keith. The matter was also referred to at the annual meeting of the Lancaster Park Club, several of the members " exprassins the opinion that the authorities might fairly see their way to fall in with the views of tha petitioners. The hurdler Ilex was landed at Lyttelton on Wednesday The anaual meeting of the Tinwald Racing Club was held on Tuesday, Mr E. Gates in Tha chair. The report and balauce sheet were regarded as very satisfactory. Tbe income for the year was shown as £555 16*, being £87 over last year's takings. The expenditure was £403 185 3d, being £36 more than that of last year. There was a total of £297 14s Id on fixed deposit, and a sum of £20 Is 3d to credit of current account. It is intended to fence off the dangerous place where the accident occurred on New Year's Day A donation of £o os was ordered to be made to the widow of the late Mr E. Price. The annual meeting of the Lancaster Paik Amattiir Trottiug Ulub was held in the moms Duncan's Buildings, on Wednesday evening, Mr V. Harris presiding. The ba'aucd sheet s-howed the profits for the year to have been £726 15s lid The assets at present are :— B Uance in bank. £3 -.9 17s 2d ; "fixed deposit National Bank, £50S 15s ; Poit Office deposits, £418 7s 2d ; sundries, £1 53 ; total, £;259 4s 4d ; liabilities nil. The Chairman in moving the adoption of the balance sheet ex- j pressed h s pleasure at being able again to coti- j gratulat** Ilie club on a mccessful year aud •übstantial progress. They had during the year estahlishea * a record for a two-days' trottiDg meeting, putting the sum of £14,360 through the totalisator. Mr Perkins seconded the motion, which was carried. The following officials were elected for the ensuing year:— Chairman, Mr V Harris; treasurer, Mr L.Wilson ; delegate to the South Island Trotting Association, ] MrW. Rollitt ; committee— Messrs G. M'Clatchie, ; J. Perkins, H. Wright, L. Wilson, H. Biinkman, - D. C. M'lntyre, C. Louisson, E. Clsirkson, 1). Barns, G. Payling, W. Rollitfc, and J. A. Holmes. ; The same members were elected stewards, atd Mr G. B. Way was elected auditor. The action of the committee in electing Mr M'Clatchie a life member, and also in regard to the securing of the new rooms, was endorsed. It was deciaed that a bonus of £3 3s should be given to Mr French, caretaker of Lancaster Paris. Mr Rollitt was authorised to represent the club at the coming conference at Wellington. The annual meeting of the Plumpton Park Racing and Trotting Club was held in the Empire Hotel yesterday afternoon, Mr C. S. Howell presiding. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet the Chan man said that since becoming affiliated with the New Zealand Trotting Association the club had recently rust with a fair amount of success, and was now in a good position. Mr Mulholland seconded the motioa, which was carried unanimously. The balance sheet showed a profit on the season's operations of £390 6s 7d. The assets the principal item of which was the freehold of Plumpton Park. (£2400), amounted to £26*25 9s Id, and the liabilities to £1847 14s lid. It was decided to join the other local trotting clubs in occupying a portion of Duncan's Buildings as offices. Officials for the ensuing year were elected as follows :—Chairman, Mr *!. S. Howell; committee — Messrs Il'.I I . Beverley, J. Franks, A. Myeiv, F. Fuchs. F. Mulho'lond, R. Mason, J. A. Holmes, R. J. Warne?, F. Holmps, and H. Dtrrett; judge, Mr I J. A. Hnlmes; auditor, Mr C. J. Martin ; handicapper, Mr H. Brinkmau ; treasurer, Mr J. Carl ; clerk of the scales, Mr Evans ; clerk of the course, Mr IS. Holme 3 ; starter, Mr C. O'Connor ; delegate to the South Inland Trotting Association, Mr C S. Howell ; secretary, Mr A. I. Rattray. Mr H. J. Derrefct was aupointed to represent the club j at the coming conference ia Wellington. The <. usual bonus of £5 each was passed to the secie- j tsry and to the treasurer, and it was also decided > to grant the sum of £3 3s each to the widow of the j late Mr E. Price and to the Jubilee Home. Messrs i C. S. Howell, J. Carl, and A. Myers were appointed a committee to draft rules for the club. Votes of thanks to the executive closed the meeting. It was agreed to present Mrs E. C. J Stevens and Mr A. S. Clarkson with life membeis' medals. The annual meeting of the New Brighton Trotting Club was held at th» new rooms Duncan's Buildings, on Friday. Mr H. M'llraith was in the cbair, and there was a good attendance of members. The balance sheet showed that, starting the year with a credit balance of £100. there was now to credit the sum of £259. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the balance sheet, said members could not but be gratified at the outcome of the season's operations, for although the club had had only one gathering a most successful financial lesult vras attained, as could be inferred from the largely increased credit balance. He trusted the club would receive another totalisator permit next season. The club was now in a position that they could afford to launch out, and it was intended to do so, and to go in for the encouragement of the higher classes of the sport. Mr M'Haffie seconded the chairman's motion, which was carried unanimously. Mx new members were elected. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: — President, Mr Hugh M'llraith (re-elected);- vice-preside t, Mr G. H. M'Haffie (re-elected) ; hon. treasurer, Mr T. Marr ; committee — Messrs J. S. Slade, W. Smithson, J. Thomson, W. C. Webb, J. Morgan, J. Parish, and W. Walker ; stewards — the committee and Messrs D. M'Lean, H. E i'earce, M. Hawkins, and F. Mulholland ; delegate to tbe South Island Trotting Association, Mr T. Marr. Mr M'llraith was appointed to repiesent the club at the annual conference at Wellington. It was unanimously decided to join the other clubs in the renting of the rooms in which the meeting was being held. A donation of £3 33 \» as voted to the widow of the late K. Price, of Ashburton. Mr J. Carl, sen , was elected a life member for services rendered to the club. H. Wiight wrote' asking the club to ' consider the removal ef his ditqualiticrfioD, but it was resolved the club could make no recommendation in the matter.