CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 37

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By 11. Quad.

Whilst the Hon. G-. M'Lean was in Christchurch he was driven to New Brighton by Mr H. Mace, and the president of the Dunedin Jockey Club' spent a few hours on Mr Mace's property. The lattei first introduced his visitor to the brood mares, amongst them being such well-known performers as Pansy 8., The Duchess, and the Del Paso mare, each with foal at foot to Wildwood. Mr M'Lean was naturally greatly interested in the progeny of the Del Paso mare, as the horse is owned by him, and he expressed the pleasure it afforded him to note that the youngster was one of the best he had seen. From the paddocks Mr M'Lean was driven round the track, which has never looked better, the heavy watering from the artesian wells having induced a capital growth of grass, and he congratulated Mr Mace •on the results of his efforts to make the track one of the best in the colony. T. Price, Mr Mace's trainer, drove a two-year-old round the track, whilst Jessie Palm, was also trotted lound. Subsequently a visit was paid to the well-appointed stables, where are hoiised such well-known trotting celebrites as Mambrino Abdallah, Brooklyn, Berlin Abdallah, Moonbeam, Rothschild feoy, a Spot mare, Almont, Director, Weary, Jessie Palm, and Brookholm. The big team could scarcely lok in better nick, and their condition reflects credit on both owner and trainer, an opinion heartily subscribed to by Mr M'Lean, who on leaving expressed surprise •at the completeness of the establishment, both inside and out.

Mention of New Brighton reminds me that many trotting enthusiasts here regret that the Colonial Secretary has been unable to grant a permit for the New Brighton Club to hold an autumn meeting. Whilst there is no doubt that the sport might be slightly overdone, there is no club in the colony that more deserves support from the powers. The meetings of this suburban club have always been well conducted, and probably the Colonial 1 Secretary will next season see his way to grant the request of the club

Mr F. Mulholland has disposed of The Member and Murmur. The foimer is being trained by B. Edwards.

Looking over American files I was particularly struck by the low prices realised by some of the youngsters at the great spies. Why, an enterprising individual could actually land in New Zealand half a dozen beautifully-bred fillies for a mere song, and when their racing days were over they would be invaluable at the stud. It is comparatively easy tc obtain the services of a first-class horse, but there are comparatively few really good standard-bred trotting mares in the colony. A glance at the prices at which these youngsters are obtainable in America suggests an experimental shipment, as they can be bought at very little more than the cost of service of the be3t of our stallions. 'Not only would such an importation be a distinct gain to our trotting stock, but remembering what blood -we have, a buyei could make a judicious selection, and so introduce new strains.

Mr Buckland has nominated five horses for events to be decided at the Canterbury Trotting Club's Winter meeting, included amongst them being Sunshine, St. Julian, Val, and Valiant. In addition to these, Franz, the full brother to the champion Fritz, will be brought over for the Juvenile Stakes. Mr Buckland will not come with the team, the horses being entrusted to the care of C. Piper, his trainer.

Although Mr F. Mulholland advertised *_is willingness to sell Scrutineer, it is poss-Lle that the horse will be withdrawn froir «jale, as his owner has almost made up Ho mind to retain him.

Many trainers at R-Iccarton are busily engaged breaking in youngsters. Those in Mr H. Lunn's charge could scarcely have taken more kindly to their work, and the same remark applies to the Clanranald youngsters iv E. Cutts's hands. Djin Djin was well fnmported here for the Thompson Handicap, but the colt failed to eVen obtain a place. It is no wonder his engagements were cancelled on the second day, as he was handicapped as though he had beaten Okoari. Paladin, and Amoureux.

H. Thomson has a numerically fairly strong team in hand just now, though none of them, perhans, are overburdened with quality. I should like to see this painstaking trainer handling a few good horses.

G-. Murray-Aynsley is controlling the training of a fine lot of horses. Mauser must be a cowrageouß horse, as no matter how sore he may be, he still struggles on. It ia a thousand pities this undoubtedly gieat horse had not been blessed with better legs; but then, of course, he would scarcely have left the Yaldhurst stable. Mauser's performances show most conclusively what a first-class cripple can do when pitted against the rank and file. Old Mata was another instance of this. When Mr Stephenson brought him over from Sydney, the old fellow was in such a state that he was obliged to adopt a prayerful attitude, yet he simply ran away from two good fields at "Riccarton, and almost secured a third stake. This by the way. Nantes and Fireside are a pair with all their rccing career before them, and I shall be surprised if they do not secure many stakes. "Belligerent, too, is not by any means slow, and if the Apremont — Justice youngster proves as good an oat-earner as was her dam, the cost of tuition will be amply returned. Baraardo is quickly being got into racing condition, and Rougemont, in the same stable, is looking well. Skirmisher ha 1 ? never, during hiq lengthy career, appeared better to the eye. I repeat my last week's assertion that, all going well with the old fellow, lip will nearly secure the Birthday Handicap at Wingatui. His trainer has not yet decided whether he will take Mauser south, but he probably will. Dundas is not doing much training. He is not so well as he mi<*ht be. Bloomer is in fine condition, and Starshot iq gradually improving. She is, I hear, an unlikely starter in the Birthday Handicap. Had the publication of the weights for the North Canterbury Handicap been delayed until after the Wellington, meeting, Paladin would scarcely have got in at 7.3

Malatua, who is looking and going nicely., is greatly fancied by many Eiccartonites for the Birthday Handicap. The Apremont — Lady's Maid youngster, in Aynsloy's stable, is shaping remarkably well. If he develons the family galloping ability of his full sister Vanilla or his half sister Gladys II his owner will not regret his purchase. The Canterbury Trotting Club's Winter meeting has drawn a nomination which will take a lot of beating. Horses have been nominated from Sydney, Auckland, Hawke's Bay, West Coast, Wellington, and Otago, and Mr Brinkman has been set a difficult task to bring the '.arge fields together. The success of the gathering is almost assured, and given fine weather there is sure to be a large attendance and heavy speculation. The stakes offered are so valuable that

the club requires fine weather to enable it : t€ pilot its meeting to a successful financial issue. The Temuka Trotting Club's meeting on Thursday provided an interesting afternoon's sport, a fairly numerous attendance being drawn from local residents. The gathering was not assisted with the totalisator. The officials did their work well, and there seems to be every probability that the club has come to stay.' Lady Nell secured the Maiden and Farmers' Handicaps; Roxolla won the Temuka Grand Handicap, the principal race of the day, from seven others; Fisherman and Fat Jack were respectively successful in the Public and Sellmg Handicaps; The Duke easily annexed tha Tradesmen's Handicap, and Bella dVeated foui opponents in the Consolation Handicap. Dundas, weighted at 8.3 in the Woodvilla Cup, is not at all likely to fulfil his engagement. ° r

Local pencillers had all the worst of thg betting transactions over the Wellington meeting, and had Okoari been successful in the Thompson the layers would have had a bad time. As it was, few wrote Amoureux' s name but, strangely enough, one metallician had what he describes as execrable luck in accepting £10 about Tigress. The conviction of Mr Sydney James was not anticipated here. In effect no one can- advertise willingness to receive money for mvastment on the totalisator, but any club can receive 'a 9 much as its clients are disposed to send. Probably the decision is according to law, but the ruling would appear likely to hamper racing clubs and possibly divert money mto other channels. Backers at a distance invariably prefer, unless they consider the horse of their choice is likely to return a dividend in excess of the bookmakers' limit, to do business with the latter, principally on the ground of expense. First, there is the cost of wiring an urgent message to a club, then probably, if a backer selects winners, he may discover, when receiving his cheque from some clubs, that five per cent, has been deducted from his winnings for clerical expenses, in addition to which he will have to pay exchange. With a reputable bookmaker this expense is avoided, and it is iittle to be wondered at that they do a large amount of starting price betting. Surely every facility should be given to clubs tc receive money for investment on the totalisator.

Scores of local backers preferred act tc support Screw Gun at the Wellington liu-flrcg, believing that if he succeeded the dividend would be infinitesimal. Yet the colt started -afi the good price of 2 to 1 on, whilst Altair, whose paper chance certainly read no better, if as well^ only paid ss. Then, again, as snowing how 'uncertain the odds on any horse may be, Whangaroa, in a hurdle race, actually paid less by 2s than did Screw Gun, whilst if the latter'a price was a fair one, how was it that backers had to accept level money about Boreas and Ruby Twist, the two latter defeating large fields?

The first coursing meeting of the Reason was held by the Ashburton Coursing Club on the I.ongbeach estate. Mr D. O'Brien acted fca judge, and Mr W. Htiston as slipper. The Allaged Stake was annexed by Mi A. Lee's bd b Elastic, by Merchant — Green Garter, she in her first couise unexpected'!.'/ defeating Mr M. Taylor's Bird on The Wing, by Razzle-dazzle — Bess Morlcy. Parthenia also put "down another of Mr Taylor's entries in Rockwood, Parthenia. finally acting as runner-up for the stake." 'Mr p. Weedon easily scored in the Puppy Stakes, his representatives Ixion and Instar winning their courses without any trouble. • •

The Christohurch Hunt Club will hold' a Farmers' Selling Steeplechase at Templeton on Saturday, May 20. The conditions provide that the event is open to those farmers only whose property has been accessible to members of the club.

The first meeting of the Sheffield Sports and Trotting Club was held on Thursday, but the heavy rain Bpoilt the attendance, and rendered the track heavy. Maxim was successful in "the Mile Maiden Trot and Two-mile Trot; Bluestone secured the Mile and a-half Maiden Trot, and Leghorn the event decided over a similar distance for ,11 beaten horses. Jack (4ft sin) annexed **ie High Jump, whilst Trojan and The C/iown tried for second place at 4ft 3in. Mantes won a mile Hurry Scurry, and Black Angel took a similar event, run over an extra half mile.

The annual meeting of the North Canterbury Jockey Club takes place on Thursday next, and as the course is within easy distance of town, and is situated in a thickly-populated sporting district, the gathering should be well attended. The privileges (without gate) realised £23 10s. Tho following are my selections : — Winter Oats. — Female Franchise. District Welter.— Gold. N.C.J.C. Handicap. — Paladin or Skirmisher. Rangiora Welter. — Bloomer. Flying. — Paladin or Nantes. Ashley Trot. — Johnny 111. Loburn Trot. — Bonnie Spec. Novel Race. — Mainstay. -

The usual monthly meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club was held to-day. A trainer's license wrb granted to F. 'P. Claridge, and a gentleman rider's certificate' to Mr E. D. O'Rorke. Transfers were granted from Mr L. D. Nathan to Mr H. B. Massey, grey yearling filly by St. Hippo — Ellerslie; to My E. J. Rae, brown yearling filly by St. Hippo — Liquidation; to Mr R. Ash, bay filly by St. Hippo — Waitemata; to Mr D. M'Leod, chestnut filly by St. Leger — Bellona. The.disqualification of H. Donovan by the Ashburton Racing Club was endorsed. The Programme Committee recommended that the Grand National meeting should be extended to three days. The recommendation wa? agreed to. The main additions made to the programme for the meeting were a hurdle race and a steeplechase of 200sovs each, and a flat race to be called the Winter Cup, and a handicap of 250sovs, one mile. The amount of the stakes allocated for the meeting was £3310. The meeting was fixe 3 to be held on August 10, 11, and 12.