CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 37

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By TM. Quad. A large number of horses have been supported for the New Zealand Cup during the past week; not for heavy amounts, certainly, but some of the wagers were evidently inspired. The owner of Seabrook accepted 1000 to 5 1 about his horse, and was prepared to take a few more wagers at the same price. The horse has been on the sick list jxist lately, but noth- ! ing is seriously amiss with him. This son of [ Johnny Faulkner is not much to look at, and on appearance few would support him. He can gallop all right, however, as a glance at his | performances will prove, and his owner confii dently asserts that he fully believes Seabrook | will defeat his stable mate Epaulet. Be this j as it may, backers of the last-named need not be alarmed at this statement, as Epaulet is a sure starter, if he keeps well, and his win at Timaru proves that he is galloping fairly well and is sound. St. Cyr has again been befriended, but Double Event, on his Timaru form, has been driven back in the quotations, while his stable companion Cannon Shot has been supported to win a fair sumf presumably by his immediate connections. Altair has been nibbled at by the punting division, as also has Hobbs's pair — Star shot and Diradas. The latter is going very well, as also is the mare, but of the pair I prefer Dundas. Whether he can stay is another question — probably he never will, few thiee-year olds have ever won the race with 7.5 up, but still the field this year is not likely to be strong. I say not likely to be strong, but Multiform is not included in this remark. He is strong enough, in all conscience. But he is an unlikely starter, hia owner piobably preferring to rely on Altair and St. Cyr. St. Paul holds his own in the local betting, notwithstanding occasional disquieting rumours as- to his condition; and Tirant d'Ep,u's price shows no signs of shortening. Hundreds to one have been accepted for the double Cup and Stewards, Blazer being most frequently selected for the short race. W. Franks has been retained to take charge of Gold Medallist on his journey Home. I hope he will land the son of Medallion and Covolla in good health. It will be recollected that W. Franks' s father went Home in charge of Bombshell (proba.bly one of the worsir animals ever taken to England) and returned with Sandhurst, the horse by Bendigo — Engagement, another very moderate animal. But both Bombshell and Sandhurst were landed in fine order, and if Gold Medallist ever comes bask to decent form and has the luck to get in a race as lightly as bis ex-stable mate Uniform, he will soon repay his purchase money. General Wolfe cut himself when jumping last week, and had to be eased in bis work. It is a pity his owner, who is one of the best sportsmen in Canterbury, has not had something ' better than General Wolfe for his trainer to ' work on. I should say that if the General had broken his leg a jear ago the first loss would | probably have been the lightest. { Two well-known gentlemen have been asked to act as arbitrators in the Maggie M case, I which, it will be remembered, was ordered by the S.M. to be settled in this way. Whether t they will act I cannot say; but it is probable ' they will. During the hearing of the case in J the court it transpired that the mare had once run at Lancaster Park in the name of Mr J. A. Holmes. At a meeting of the committee of the Lan- i caster Park Trotting Club, held on Tuesday J night, an exhaustive- inquiry was made with j reference to the entry of Maggie M in the i Prince of Wales' s Handicap at the club's Spring meeting of last year, and it was resolved unanimously: — " (1) That- after hearing Mr J. A. Holmes's explanation and the evidence of Higgins and Mahoney, the stewards are fully satisfied that Mr Holmes had no connection with the acceptance of Maggie M, and that the same was made without his knowledge or consent; but at the same time the stewards consider that he showed culpable negligence in | not reporting to the stewards the fact that the '• mare appeared in his name on the card without his consent. (2) That J. Higgins be disqualified for life for fraudtilently using Mr Holmes's name in accepting with Maggie M without receiving his consent." A two-year-old gelding by Imperious from the racing mare Emerald, the property of Mr Fred Holmes, of Sockburn, was shot either by accident or design by some person at present unknown. It had strayed with another to the mid-Lincoln road, where it was found. The shot penetrated about the shoulder, along the neck and round the eyes. Though the colt is in a bad state, it is thought he will survive. The committee of the Plumpton Park Trotting Club have drawn up a most attractive programme for the next meeting. On the first '. day there will be a Maiden Saddle Handicap, of 30sovs, two miles; Sockburn Saddle Handicap, of GOsova, two niles ; Progressive Harness Handicap, of 40sovs, two miles; Selling , Saddle Handicap, of 30sovs, two miles; : Plumpton Harness Handicap, of 65sovs, two ; miles ; Electric Handicap, of 40sovs, one mile ; and a Dash Harness Handicap, of 40sovs, one i mile. Second day — Maiden Harness Handi- '. cap, of 40sovs, two miles; Pony Saddle Handi- i cap, of 25sovs, two miles; Hornby Saddle '. Handicap, of 75sovs, two miles; Selling Haf- : ne3s Handicap, of SOsovs, two miles; Midland i Saddle Handicap, of 40sovs, two miles; Ric- i .carton Harness Handicap, of 7550.V6> two. ;

miles; Telegraph Handicap (saddle) of4oaovs; and Final Handicap, of 40sovs, one mile. The four local trotting clubs have now drawn up their programmes, and it is safe to affirm I that trotting men have never had such an attractive bill of fare placed before them. There is no doubt that the various clubs have endeavoured to keep going with the times. The New Brighton Club, which has not been long in existence, has put forth a card which would bear more than favourable comparison -with two-thirds of the old-established racing clubs. j If trotting is to go ahead, and I have no doubt j it will, it is necessary that clubs should keep ■ up their stakes, and the fact has been recognised by all the central clubs. Ho.v many trotting horses there are in active work in and around Christchurch it would be difficult to say, many hundreds, I am sure, and owners are constantly replenishing their stables with good stock from foreign parts. I hear that several prominent owners are negotiating for the purchase of horses in Australia, and all things considered there is every prospect that the incoming season will be an exceedingly prosperous one. A good many two-year-olds have been spurted on _ the course proper during the past week, trainers being quick to take advantage of the privilege. The youngsters have also been receiving a portion of their education at the barrier, the majority of them showing no objection to the tapes. Telemeter is unsound, and is not likely to be in training again for some time. He has been blistered. D. O'Brien left here on Friday for a short trip to Australia. It is rumoured that he does not intend to return; but there is apparently no truth in. the rumour. _ Opai and Toriki have both improved considerably since their sojourn here, which may show perhaps how beneficial a short spell from active training may be. H. Thomson has been busy making arrangements for their departure to the old country. Crocus, the Steeplechase mare, got a splinter in one of her legs whilst jumping at the Christchurch Hunt Club's meeting, but its extraction has enabled her to show that she -will quickly be herself again. The committee set up by the Lancaster Park Club to make inquiries and report as to the I advisableness of obtaining a suitable piece of ground for a trotting track have inspected several plots of land, and I believe will report in favour of one -within easy distance of town. I had a look at the youngster by Imperious out of Mascotte a few days ago. This filly is shewing every indication of proving a fair advertisement to her parentage. The same owner possesses a cycle youngster which will compare favourably with many of the age. I Mr Mace is once more at the head of winning ' owners in the trotting field. Yet the amount ! he has won is small, and can scarcely more " than have paid expenses, which must be con- i siderable with such a large establishment to maintain. J. Taggart is now training his team in Canterbury, xt. Henry has done so for some time, and another North Islander in R. Day is also training here. R. Allan, of Dunedin, has also taken up his quarters here. At the Oxford Town Hall on Thursday evening, Mr Eobert Gilchrist, a leading sportsman, was presented with a whip and spurs. Mr J. Ingram made the presentation, and spoke in eulogistic terms of the sterling qualities of Mr G-ilchrist as a friend, his industry and skill as a faimer, and his prowess aa a sportsman. The Christchurch iLunt Club has not yet inquired into the alleged case of ringing-in at iis recent meeting. JMr C. B. Winter, who has been a member of the executive of the Canterbury Jockey Club for some years, is about to remove to Adelaide. J Mr Winter's ability both as a steward and committeeman is well kjiown, and his departure will be a loss to the local club. Tin committee of the New Brighton Trot- i ting Club has drawn up the following pro- j gramme for its Spring meeting, to be held on October 20 and 22: — First day: Maiden Han- • dicap (in saddle), of 30sovs, two miles; Pony i Handicap (in harness), of 30sovs, one mile and. a-half; Burwood Handicap (m saddle), of 60 soys, for horses that can do 5.40 or better, two miles; Selling Handicap (in saddle), of 25sovs, one mile; i'rogressive Handicap (in saddle), of 40sovs, two miles, for horses that have not done better than 5.30, 25sec limit; Brighton Handicap (in harness), of 60sovs, for horses that can do 5.40 or better, two miles; Electric Han- ; dicap (in saddle), of 35sovs, 20sec limit, one ! mile; Dash Handicap (in harness), of 35sovs, \ 20sec limit, one mile. Second day: Maiden Handicap (in harness), of 30sovs, two miles ; Pony Handicap (in saddle), of 30sovs, two miles; Spring Handicap (in harness) of 60sovs for horses that can do 5.40 or better, two miles; Sel- j ling Handicap (in saddle), of 25sovs, one mile ; j Advance Handicap (in harness), of 40sovs, for horses that have not done beter than 5.30, with 20sec limit, two miles; Avon Handicap (in saddle), of 60sovs, for horses that can do 5.40 or better, two miles; Telegraph Handicap (in harness), of 35sovs, 20sec limit, one mile ; Final Handicap (in saddle), of 35sovs, 20sec limit, one j mile. Th.s South Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting i provided some really_good sport, many of the ! finishes being closely" contested. The iact that I tho , totalisator turnover was slightly less j than last year does not necessarily mean, I , should say, that speculation was less, but may t be fairly put down to the operations of the licensed bookmakers and the commendable punctuality shown in getting o2 the various events. The attendance was as good as usual, anl the club is almost ''sure to come out on the > right side of the ledger. Kuku was in front all • the way in the Hunters' Hurdle Race, Jib being his nearest attendant, but the Perkin Warbeck horse won easily at the finish. Windermere, who ran so well at the Grand National meeting, ran none too well, Glenore finishing third just in front of him. None of the others had much chance. It was generally thought that Crusader would defeat Epaulet in the Maiden Plate, although there was not much difference in the betting between the p,air. Epaulet is a fail horse under weight, and it was a good peiformance to carry 10.7 and cover the seven furlongs on a' slightly heavy course in lmin 33sec. Refugee, a New Zealand Cup candidate, finished third, only 8| tickets being invested on ' her chance. Gladys II and Battery ran well for ! fi^e furlongs. Doiible Event was entrusted with ' the public confidence in the Timaru Cup, and I thcugn he looked and was evidently fairly well, the last furlong found him out, and Maremma , and Sequin were left in front. No sooner had ; the Dunedin horse got the better of Sequin, thau Castashore appeared on the scene, and ' putting in a strong challenge, which Maremma wis unable to resist, went on and won by three parts of a length. The time and dividend were both good, the former showing 2min 14-Jsec for the mile and a quarter and the latter £6 16s. Vanilla and Bimetallist were in the van for six furlongs, but the pace was too strong for them to continue. It is understood that the conr.ections of the Auckland horse, who has hitherto been somewhat of a disappointment, had. a good win over Castashore's victory. Sequin has improved a good deal since the National meeting, but her running has not shortened her price for the New Zealand Cup. Joker, by Texas — Lady Mary, had no difficulty in winning the Timaru Trot from a big field, paying £10 16a. Mount Clair had a good bit to spare when he won the Welter Handicap, ecming out from, the ruck and winning cleverly. Linkshot ran well, finishing second, whilst Bold occupied the remaining unenviable position. Ren orse 11, Vandyke, and Swordfish might reasonably have been expected to have made a bettei showing, but neither were prominent after half the distance had been covered. Mount Claiv registered lmin 33sec. thus equalling that

, put up by Epaulet in the Maiden, and naitf ' £8 16s. Dundee was perhaps lucky to win" the Spring Hurdle Race, Napoleon and Lobo falling, thus leaving Magazine to fight out the finish with Dundee, the latter prevailing by a, head Neither of the -riders were hurt when. Napoleon and Lobo fell, and the horses also escaped injury. Warrington and The Orphan made all the running in the Flying Handicap, but Bloomer made a fine run in the straight. When alongside Warrington, hoy. ever, the hitter, appeared to roll over on to the filly, Warrington winning by a length. A protest against him for interference with Bloomer was uoheld. There were only 11 investors on Wiirriiigtoa and 15 on The Orphan, who finished third. Vanilla, Castashore (penalised 71b), Swor-tfish, and Miss Charm also staited. Botfly wound up the day's racing by easily capturing the Five-furlong Pony Race, beating four others, of whom Topsy and Rosie O'Shea. filled the places in that order. The second day opened with th? Handicap Hurdle Race, for which Magazine was selected a slight favourite. He could only finish second to Jib, however, the mare winning by half a length, with Dundee third. Napoleon was beaten off. Jib could only finish second to Kuku. on the first day. Crusader made amends for his first day's running by winning the Gladstone Handicap, Epaulet being unplaced. Linkshot again finished second, whilst Miss Lochiel was third. Maremma had an easy task in the Rhodes Memorial Stakes, one mile, Remorse II and Swordfish filling the uncoveted positions. The winner went out favourite. Double Event was again piominent for the first half, bat died right away at the business end of the journey, finishing fourth. Sequin and Vanilla never appeared .dangerous,. Rex 11, by King Cole — Norah, easily* won the Ladies' Bracelet for Mrs J. C. N. Grigg, beating Annoyance and Windermere, second and third respectively. Bold defeated a fair field in the Stewards' Stakes, paying a satisfactory dividend. The Orphan again ran well, suffering defeat by a head only, with Vandyke third. Eulalie, by Wilkin, won the Seadown Trot' easily, Topsy being equally successful in the Port" Handicap, after a good race with Botfly. Mount Clair appropriated the Farewell Handicap, defeating Cannonshot by half a length, I Refugee third.