THE CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB'S MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 32

THE CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB'S MEETING.

By M. Quad.

Tbe member 9 of the above club can 3s\v'n congratulate themselves on the success which attended their National meeting. Perhaps there were fewer people on the ground than on the opening cloy last year, but theie could not have beoj much difference in the attendance taking the two days, The track was in first-class condition, and the trotting witnessed was quite as good, indeed some of the finishes, especially on the second day, wcie equal to the best ever see'] in the colony. The officials all iLcl their utmost to secure the success of th? E&Uionnc. and although I have elsewhere taken exception to the actions of the siaitei, whose methods niighl well have been revised by the executive, tins was almost the only instance of apparent officialdom to which objection coukl bo taken The ladies thoroughly appieciatecl the afternoon tea piovided by the club, -which wa? eflDecialls welcome fin Bitch cold afternoons.

Punctuality was almost too strictly observed, bo far as the funds of the club were affected, many hundreds being turned n,way from the nmchineg. Mr Brinkinan's handicapping came in for some adverse criticism during the meeting, but he had the satisfaction of noting that the verities did not often eventuate.

Reality, a three-year-old Imperious colt, easily won the Maiden Handicap Trot (in saddle), the issue never being in doubt from flag fall. Simon E. was his nearest attendant at the finish, Au Reyoir third. The Member, a gelding by Electioneer, was entrusted with a lot of money in the Pony Handicap Trjt (in harness), a great compliment considering the quality of the field. However, Lady Spec,by Specification— Lady Jane,led the whole wny closely pressed by the favounte, the remainder of the field never being dangerous. Lady Spec won nicely from The Meinbpr, \yko skipped twice during the last round. Wildwocd was naturally made favourite in the Free-for-All, one mile and a-half. Alter eight false attempts the field got oS fairly evenly, "Wildwood, on the inside immediately going to the front, whilst Monte Carlo hung badly, Sam Slick also being &iow to move. Lauderdale went up at tha turn, and although he showed a fair turn of speed, he was unable to retrieve his position. Little Willie was within a few lengths of the leader when half the distance had been coveied, Sam Slick and Monte Carlo, the latter of whom had made up a lot of giouad, both trotting steadily. Little Willie broke going round the top foi ths second time, ba/ii Slick and. Monte Cano going on &ome distance behind Wildwood, who was easily holding his position. Commencing the last round Monte Carlo just headed Sam Slick, but the latter almost immediately regained his position, and finally finished second to Wildwood, who won as he liked, with Monte Carlo third and Littlo Willie next. Lauderdale did not finish. The time docs not really tell anything, as the mile ond a-half ocupied the winner 3inin 48sec.

A really nice cut of a horse in Elflock, who claons Electioneer as sire, v«on the Progressive Handicap id a jog trot, being fully 150 yds ahead of his field, of whom few were trying when thea- drivers found pursuit hopeless. The winner started a warm favourite. Polly Huon again gave evidence of her sterling ability by winning the Addmgton Handicap Trot iairly easily at the finish. Rosewood was the only one to seriously threaten the winner, being withing striking distance of Polly until halt way round tho last lap, when a bad break at a critical point completfly extinguished her chance. Tracy Belle, who trotted well in bit.«, wa» third. Loilector finished very feist. "...olhor favourite in I>vculi".i',/ti jjot home m the following event, the Spring Handicap, but not axute so ea3)ly as did ElUock, as Patchwork "was at him for one-half the distance, after wlueh Aiilliondup cL.iota him. Cumiuoneiog the U-a la,]) it looked v.s though the- bullionnamed one would beat the freethinker, but a skio ju-at wliou an excituis iifti^D seemed inevitable gave Braulaugb an opportunity to trot hcuu- a winner by six lengths, with Hurry Sneaker, who had shaped well throughout, third. Uclhuau tailed to get. go.ng, hi.-, rider being asked by the stewards to esplaiu the horse's poor form. The Australian-bred pony. Aileen, travelled at a great pace in the Dash Handicap Trot, and quickly had all but old Robin settled. She caught and parsed him also at the half distance, but Robjn stuck to hei wheel until well on the road home, when h? broke, Aileen winning by iiaif a length A piotest foi crossing was dismissed Aileon covered the mile in lniin 34seo, which 3s paiticuarly fast travelling for a pony. She is by Haoibletomai? Bell Boy, and I should say there are few ponie3 her equal in the colonies. Thy first day's proceedings wore brought to a conclusion by Vauxhall winning by 50yds the Electric Handicap Tiot, one mile. Jessie, from a back mark, finished at a great pace, but none of the others ever got within striking distance of the winner. The second day's programme was commenced in cold rainy weather, but the contests on the whole were much more intciestmg. Unfortunately accidents marred tho prograrnmo somewhat, but. none of them lesulted seriously to humanity. Almo/iG, a finp looking ibvr^-ycnr-old, out of Puella,won the Trial Handicap by half a length fiom Vasco, with Design third- Alrnont had to submit, to a protest lor crossing, which was dismissed. The winner broke several times, and thsa won, thus sbowing marked ability. Dora ran away with the Pony Handicap, nothing making even the semblance of a race with her. . Tho High-class Handicap resulted m a win for Lauderdale, whoso perfoimance was a particularly meritorious one. Eight from the word he trotted steadily, and although closely pressed by Jessie Palm he held his own and won by three lengths from the breaking Jessie Palm.' Sam Slick and Monte Carlo both trotted well, but "Wildwood's driver did not deser ;o the stupid hooting aa his horse was being steadied, he 'having gone over the line before the bell rang. The stewards asked for an explanation of the apparent inconsistency of Laudcrclale's performance as compared with that on the first day, and decided to accept the explanation as eatiafactoiy. There was no earthly doubt about the inconsistency, but the stewards evidently held the opinion, which was generally shared in, that there was no necessity to alter the judge's placing. Both Lauderdale and Jessie Palm were nicely handled, and Sheppard, the driver of the winner was heartily congratulated on bis success. _ Mr Mace's colt Almont bad another fau-ly comfortable win in the Nursery Stakes, for three year-olds, the colt trotting much more steadily than in his first essay. Lady Spec ran really well considering her menes, but never had a hope of beating the winner. _ When the horses were being despatched m th» IWuofial Hanrik <r> Sara Slick overturned his sulky, and swinging round galloped down the track. Fortunately he left the track at tho end of the picket fence, and was soon caught. In the meantime Zealandia was just leading a compact division, comprising Islam, Heather Dew, and Rosewood, with Polly Huon coming fast. Zealandia maintained her lead, Islam and Heather Dew both breaking. Rerus was ai=o going well, as was Jessie -Palm, who was surely making up her handicap. With, on* round to go it looked any odds on Polly Huon, but both she and Rosewood went xip at the bottom turn. At this point Jessie Palm fell, and quickly regaining her feet galloped after tho leaders, dragging the. wrecked sulky. Warning voices caused Barnes, the anver oi Zealandia, to look behind, and seeing Jessie Palm close to hfm, he just had time to pull out a few inches to allow the mare to gallop past linn. This necessarily steadied Zealandia, and she had the misfortune tc be beaten by a nose by Heather Dew, who had not travelled tho whole distance, at the regulation gait. Polly Huon finished fast in third position. Frost, who was driving Jessie Palm, was not much hurt, although he was diagged some 15yds. The August Handicap produced a splendid contest between Dictator and Bradlaugb, the two horses trotting it out side by side for fully two-thiicis of the distance. Dictator finally pot (he better of his opponent. Bradlaugh, through getting away before Ins time, was disqualified, and second place awarded to Harry Sneaker. Topsy Irvington, taking it into her head to pace eteadiVy, won the Telegraph Handicap from Zealandia and a fair field, and Murmur secured the Final Handicap Trot, although she finished second to Jessie and Monte Carlo, but both were put out for going away before their time. This gave General Luck and Hassan second arid third xaqnea Keeceotiveto.