CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 33

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By M. Quad.

' Acceptances for tUe Tinwald annual meeting have not yet been published, so I must attempt a selection without their aid There seems every probability that the club'a gatheriug will "be successful, as, indeed, I hope it may, as if there is a club in Canterbury that deserveß support, that one is Tinwald. Unfortunately the meeting clashes with the second day of the Canterbury Trotting Club, which may somewhat affect the southern club. The Tinwald authorities have not been fav-our-ed by the elements for two years ; perhaps- this season the weather may be of the best kind. I scarcely see what is to beat Rartsefinder in the Tinwald Cup, unless Skirmisher can do the trick. Rangefinder might have been asked to carry a few pouuds more. Ou Ashburton running he should defeat Canuonsthot, and on New Brighton form Skiirnisher cannot win. Paladiu will need to improve a lot to keep up with Rangefinder, as also will Belligerent. Lord Stanbuiy, Tale of the War, and Conspirator are the trio I like in the New Tear's Gift Handicap, and Dot Bhould have no difficulty in winning the Pony Race. Paladin will take a lot of drubbing in the Flying Handicap, whilst Contention is fast enough to fcioiible tfce remainder. Lord Stanbury seems to 'have a really good chance in the Westerfleld Welter Handicap, and Tale of the War strikes me as being about the pick of the remainder. The trotting handicaps range to 55sec, and in such ti big field it is just about as easy to pick the winner as it is to draw the winner! in Tattersall's £100,000 sweep. Trotters, too, have a most exasperating habit of coming on and goineoff in such an unaccountable manner that the ordinary tipster does not feel at ill sure of success, even when the horse he selects thowed ou the previous day that he had at least EOsec to spare in the handicao the writer might

be critic'sing. Rockwood, Clifton, and Toby are the ones I prefer in this Trot.

Riccarton tracks are probably worse now than they have been for years. Rain is badly wanted. There are not many hordes working here at the moment, a number of the stock auimals having gone across to the coastal meetings. Cutts's team is kept moving along at half to three-quarter pace, none of his horses being sciiously amiss with influenza. Dawson, who wa-3 for veara connected with Mason's establishment at "£"aldhui\,t. seems likely to quickly make a name for himself as a public trainer. Firefly is in his charge, and she win at the first time of asking, and now Mannlicher, another Yaldhurst cast-tff, has been placed in Dawson's care.

Judging by the fact <h-*t Mascotte has been withdrawn from her engagement at the Canterbury Trotting Club's meeting, whilst she has been left iv the event t) be decided at Cheviot on New Year's Day it is probable the mare will be s*en out at tho northern meeting. She is on scratch, and will take do end of beating ; but I hear there is one in the rape quite good enough to do so. Jib should win the Cheviot Cup. and she should have a chance also in the M'Keuz'.e Stakes. Silver Star inav win the Maiden.

Valuta, by Burlington, won a double at the Rolltston Sports mcc inff. This horse ought to be worth training for something better than is provided at such meetings. I notice that the Greymouth Club has passed a resolution— "That this club has eveiy confidencain th*e administiation of the South Island Trotting A sociation, and approves of the stand taken by ihe asseeia-ion in the Bed of Stone case, and also commends the action of the Colonial Secretaiy in the said case" I suppose the Greymouih Club has eveiy right to express its unsolicited opinion in this matter, but it is juat a bit surprising that the club should have deemed it nectssaiy to discusi the subject at all. The Gieymouth Club would scarcely relish a like acti' n on the part of the Canterbury Trotting Clubif the tul-ject of dispute were bstween the association and the West Coast body. Mr Stead left for Auckland on Tuesday, and Mr V. Harris ha? al c o departed for tho Coast.

It is intended to hold a race meeting at Halswell S'itne time next month.

Captain Popham's Melbourne purchases are now in charge of Aynsley at Kir carton. One is a chestnut I y Patron and the other a b»y by Portsc*. They aie not a particulaily well-grown pair, but time may effect a great improvement in their appearaoce. Mr Sam Brown, Ihe owner of Gorton, has gone on a trip to Auckland. It is quite likely that he will bring back oue or two of the youngsters which will be offered for sale ia the northern city.

It is scarcely worth while reporting in full what took place at the meeting of the Canterbury Trotting Club to further consider T. Price's protest, entered on behalf of Linda, who ran second to Bed of Stone. At briefly reported last week, the club decided to puy out on Bed of Stone, the result being met by Price giving notice that ha would appeal against ths deci.siou to the South Island Trotting Association. This action prevented the club cinyinsc oufc its moriou to pay out on the following Wednesday. The resolutions of the me- ting were conveied to Mr Selig, president of the South Maud Trotting Association, who then granted a permit for the club's race meeting. So far the trouble between the Canterbury Trotting Club aud the i-s«i.ciaiion seesued *to be fairly well arranged. On Thursday, however, a wire was received by the club from the Colouial Secretary to the effect that until the club x>aicl out ou Bed of Stone he would not grant a pevmit for its forthcoming meeting. Then Mr ßelig communicated with Mr Carroll, as also did pome of the CT.O's members, with the result that the club lias received a permit. From what I could gAtht-r at the meeting of the club its members wera so di'gustcd with the whole thing that they would not hays been greatly ti oubled if the meeting had been abandoned. Soms of the members expressed themselves in a sulphurous manner as to the way the club bad b«en treated by the spoutirg writers on the Referee, even joing bo fur as to table a motion that a deputation from the club should int- r>'iew Ihe dircc'ors of that journal and point out the unfair criticism to which the club had been subjected, but this was subsequently withdrawn. The Caiitsrbury Trotting Club, at its meeting on Monday, agreed to reiustate two youngsters iv the Juveniln Stakes of 1898. A letter giving inst ruction? to keep them in was posted at the < '•hristchnrch Pnst Office on Saturday, addressed to the "Secretary, Canterbury Trotting Club." The letter, through being placed iv the Can! erbvuy Jockey Club's box, did not come to hand until Monday, the time for making the further payments falling due on the previous Sttutclay night. The writer of the instructing letter went to the office of the clv ■ on the Satuiday morning, but finding no one there posted his letter. Under the circumstances the club agreed to reinstate the pair. They are a brown gelding by Imperious— Maxima and a bay iilly by the tame sire out of Faith. It certainly see-ms rather hard that .\n owner should suffer through the fault of post oflice official', but it appears to me that the club, in reinstating the youngsters, established a most dangerous precedent, and one that will not be forgotten.

Some fir*t class trotting wos witnessed at the Show gioivnda to-day (Bixing Day), and the Canterbury Trotting Club's fixture was favoured with a fine if sotnowhat cold dity. Heavy rain had fallen overnight, and though a, strong sou' w v fst brecza followed the downpour, it was only sufficient to dry the surface, thu3 leaving the track in good order. The sum of £4344 was p sscd through the totalise tors, just about what was expected, and those who supported outsiders frequently had the best of the deal. The Maiden Handicap (in harness) was not looked npon by the betting portion of those present es a medium of speculation, very Httle money being invested on the race, only 108 tickets being purchased on the favourite, Mantou. This horse, Bonnie Macgregor, and Garry Owen, were close together at the end of a mile, where it looked as' thougb Manton would win. He tired a great dt-al over the last l>p, and Bonnie MACgregor skipping badly, Garry Ovren won faiily easily, the two miles taking sm in !30tec to compass.

Gwynne was made favouiite for the Pony Handicap, and the re ult was never in doubt, the mare easily distancing the remainder. A fine race eventuate 1 in the BoxiDg Diy Handicip, especially as between Stonewall Jackson scratch and Mallow 20sec. Sterling Lad 20^-ec, though somewhat fractious, Uiowed such pace in his preliminary that he wai made a level-money chance However, he declined to trot decently, preferring to prance round the track. Stonewall Jarkson caught the leaders (Mallow, Shamrock, and General Luck) 350 yards from home, and the race then appeared lo be at his mercy, but Mall-jw, gamely trying, gradually caught the big fellow, and a great set-to up the straight resulted in Mallow winning by a head. Dividend, £57 4s. (I was not on it). Design had 20sec start in the Ranfuily Stakes, for three-year-olds, and was tupposed to be a real good thing. At the halfdistance it looked a gift to him, but breaking again and again, let up Candidate, who, though twice skipping, pas3ed Scrutineer at the threequartpr poit, and won by about three lengths in 2min 37£ sec —particularly good going for a three-year-old. Murmur (a pacer) was only seriously threatened by Royana in the Progressive Handicap, but the lastnamed went up at a critical portion of the race, and allowed Minmur to win easily. Miss Annie paced well, but broke too frequently. Time, smin 34jec. A splendid contest, worth going a few yards to witness, was that seen in the Addington Handicap. Little Willie, Rita, Monte Carlo, Sam Slick, Rosewood, and Ascot — top-notchers in the trotting world — were oppo»ed, Rita being most fancied. Sam Slick broke after going a, quarter, but then settled down in great style, quickly passing Rosewood and Ascot. Monte Carlo and the skipping Rita were going at a great gait, as also was Little Willie. Monte Carlo caught and passed Sam Slick, a quarter from home, owing to a break, which lost Rae's horse inside berth, and Monte o*rlo went ou round the top two lengths in front of Sam Slick. Gradually the latter closed up the gap, and when the bottom turn was being turned the pair were almost together, Sam on the outside. Monte Carlo ran ahn oi t too wide- entering the straight, thus forcing Sam out on to the grass, and piobably unintentionally interfering with his prospects. Up the straight the pair were running n^ck and

n«ck, the whip on Monte Carlo, Sam driven hard. Twenty yards from the judge the crowd were yelling 1 , "Sam!" but going up at the critical moment Monte Carlo, thanks to his great gnmeness and a liberal application of the flax, got home by a nose amidst great excitement. The winner was deservedly eh ered, as silso was his plucky opponent. Monte Carlo has run so consistently of late that all were pleased to see him win, even though he defeated a popular horse in Sam Slick. Time, Cmin 2sec. £8 16s dividend. Sterling Lad never gave anything else a chance in tho Electric Handicap, smothering eveiything for pace and distancing the field. A protest was entered by the ri^er of tbe_ distanced August, which the stewards unanimously dismissed. Munro then gaya notice that he would appeal to the association. Sterling Lad will pay £9 2s. Berlin Maid was always with the loaders in the last mile and won easily, the rest breaking repeatedly, the mate paying £17 Bj. The C.T.C. stewards were placed in a somewhat awkwaul position in regard to the protest entered against Sterling Lad. The rider of the distanced second horse (August) entered the protest, and the rules lay it down that no distanced hor.se can claim the (.takes, and had the stewards derided against Sterling Lad the race would have had to be run again. Having decided iv his favotir they fire seemingly debarred fioai paying out by the notioe of appeal. If the association de-ide agaii.st Sterling Lad it will be difficult to ruu the race again, and the money will then, I supp S3, be returned to the investors. The whole cas'i brittle? with points, somo of which are not provided for in the ruleF, and shows once again that the stewards alone should be the judges of inconsistency. The last race was started before the judge entered bis box, he being engaged at the Stcrlit>g Lad inquiry, the horses being pulled up after going one roitnd. Tl}is misfortune made no difference to the original investors, as the btewards ordered that the machine should not be reopened.