THE RACING AT OHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 35

THE RACING AT OHRISTCHURCH.

Five or six years ago when talking to Mr Morrin at Auckland he confided to me his dpinion that Hotchkiss would be the stallion at his place to produce record-breakers. The prophecy seemed at the time premature, and some no doubt thought so when I printed it; but we now have Swordfish as a recordholder, and it is plain as a pikestaff that both Multiform and Screw Gun are equal to breaking records should they ever be asked to do so. Hotchkiss is, in fact, the true successor of his sire Musket. That is one of the lessons of the C.J.C. Meeting. Pitch and Toss, winner of the Great Autumn Handicap, also comes from the Musket family, through Medallion, who was at one time regarded as the likeliest of the Musket stock to produce winners. The full merit of this little mare's performance has not been disclosed until now. She was short of work, Goodman being unable, for want of a track, to give her a gallop from the time she left Wingatui until her arrival in Christchurch, and in addition she gave herself a severe handicap by getting partially choked through rushing into the tapes at tho start. This mishap caused the boy to be brushed off her back, and the mare had her mouth bo severely cut that ty was still bleeding when she came in a winner. Under the circumstances it is surprising that she was abl^ to pvillrp at all. I understand that Mr Goodman han a fair win, but took nothing like .i* ini'di out of the betting as he would h<\r, d-mo if his first day's investments L "I tura'-d ou: right. Clinker, was beaten h feaatl ia t!:n Maiden, and Pitob and Toss vrfts dcleaicd a

noM in the Sockburn Handicap. If the»o horse? had been properly keyed up tho chances are that they would have won on the firs: day. And if thoy had Ido not think the 51b penalty would have stopped Pitch and Toss in the Great Autumn on the second day. In the Sockburn Handicap she and Double Event had 7.10 each, and DouDle Event won by a nose. If Pitch and Toss had won she would have had the 51b extra in the Great Autumn, and Double Evert would have had his original weight — in other words each would have carried 7.. 10, the namfl as in the Sockburn Handicap, and I think the mare would have won on the point of staying. As it was Mr Goodman had a good inning, and I don't suppose he is growling, but he might have done ever so much better if able to gallop his horses beforehand. The closing of the Forbury track was what blocked him. As a matter of faft the course is still locked up. Some of the horses engnged at the Taieri got in for a gallop, but this was not by authority. Ono member of the D.J.C. Committee took it upon himeelf to open the gates, and it ia understood he was called upon for an explanation at tha committee meeting. I don't Know exactly what happened, but it is hardly likely that this sort of thing will occur again.