SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 35

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Coming, as it doas, as a sort of appendix * to the C.J.C. Easter meeting,. after an interval 'long enough to grant a respite to the horses that are overdone, yet not so long aa to lose the condition of the cherry-ripe contingent, tho old-established fixture of the Soutli Canterbury Jockey-Club is a favourite one with owners. It gives a show to the se-cond-elassers who 7 having no hope with the Multiforinß and Euroclydons and Gipsy Grands, are yet a very useful class, capaola of making good racing when they get amongst themselves. The meeting is also liked because those who go know beyond all doubt that the affair *will be well managed. This haa ever been a strong point with the S.C.T.C, and Mr Gordon P. Wood well upholds local tradition. This- year tho weather on the first day was what we call coarse, and the grass was wet and the .track somewhat heavy. In consequence of the wretched conditions tha attendance was hardly up to the average. There was a. boil-over to begin with. Clinkeiv the favourite for the High-weight Handicap, never had a show. Lapidary led all the way, and won easily. He is a five-year-old gelding by Ahua, out of the Traducer mare Trinket. In the Washdyke Weller the pace was made by Grandshot and Warrant, and the firstnamed won rather easily. He is by Artillery — Rosedale, therefore brother to Cannonshot. Hypnotist, winner of the Hack Race,, is related to Lapidary, being out of the latter'* 1 granddam, Charm. Tho Autumn. Handicap^ conditions did not suit Pitch and Toss. She could not act in- the mud,, and from, tho start tailed off. Vandyke forced the pace, accompanied first hy Jewel" and. then by Japiteci Once' in a line for- home Double-; Event inau& his run and got a gooil .place 'from whence he was able to swoop down for a win by "a length and a-halt He .won this-raee last-yejui with 7.5, beating" Epaulet B.Q and" Black and Red 7.7 for places. The Flying Handicap, was generally regarded as a- very , open sort of race, four of the stnHers being 'backed with something like equal spirit, but the contest proved ra bo quite a' one-sided- affair at the finish,. Gladys II drawing clear without any trouble On tho second day Vandyke was rather lively at tho posl, but he got away all right, was prominent thoughout the race, and won aa ho liked. Having so little taken out of him,, he was also started in the Jockey Club Handicap, but the fresh horses were too good, and had the finish to themfiolves. It was a splen* did race. Sequin was apparently winning, when Double Event made his run, and just got up by a head. Last year ho had to taka .necond place in this race to Pitch and Toss, but Mr Goodman's mare made no show this time, though on tho second day the courpa wa« drier. -Vanilla's fine run, landing her tha winner of tho Short*, may be taken as indicative of the beginning of another term of usefulness for this brilliant mare, and thera was morn than a little merit in Bizarre's performance in tho Farewell Handicap. The. sum of £2880 was passed through the totalizators by Messrs Moaon and^Roberts. Laat ' year the total was £2394-. Mr Wood writes mo that Jn spite of the wet weather on the. first day tho meeting will not, result in k a loss, though it was feared that -it would- ;