CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 38

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fiutz.

I had a look at the New Zealand MeL*oi)olitan Trotting Club's track a few days ago, and I should say, providing the weather is favourable, that the ground will be in capital order fo v the autumn meeting oi the club, which takes place on May 24 and 26. There is little likelihood of the lOOsovs purse which the club is offering being secured by any of our iocat hoises, the test suggested being beyond their capabilities.

alonte Carlo, Collector, Jewel, and St. Julian, ivho weic taken to the "Wellington Trotting Club's meeting, all secured stakes.

The local pcncillers did a thriving business in connection with the Wellington RacingClub's autumn meeting. Backers more than held their own, nearly all the metalhoians being heavily hit. Dundas and The Shannon were substantially supported for their respective races on the second day of the meeting, and the downfall of Advance on the first day was a seveie blow to backers. I was pleased to sea Cannie Chiel secure a race for Mr G. Clifford.

A peculiar double piotest cropped up in connection with the Ashburton Handicap Trot, decided at the Ashbuiton Trotting Club's Autumn meeting on Friday. Hard Case won the race, with Senator second and Wenlock third. A protest on behalf of Senator was entered against the winner on the ground that his rider weighed in overweight without having preyiusly made a declaration to that effect, but it being shown that the rider of the second horse was al&o overweight, it was withdrawn. The owner of the third horse also entered a protest against the first and second horse 3on similar grounds, but when it was discovered that the rider of- Wenlock was also overweight^ this objection was also withdrawn. The rule bearing on tho matter lias never, to my knowledge, . been observed by the scale officials tit trotting meetings. One rule states that if a horse weighs m overweight, after making » 14lb allowance, he shall be disqualified, unless in the opinion of the stewards the overweight has been brought about by error or wet weathev. Any rider carying more thau his 14Hi allowance must declare the same, tc? tbs clerk of the scales, and such declaration bU»U be posted by ihe offlcist.l. AH Hster# AtO"-***

sponsible for overweight. It has become the custom for riders to get into the scale, and so long as they weighed 10.0 they were passed. In the case under notice the rider of Hard Case weighed in at 12.0, 141b overweight, the rider of Senator 11.5, 51b over, and the rider of Wenlock 11.25, 2Jlb over, and neither had made the required declaration. The incident should not be forgotten by 'trotting men, as similar omissions in future may lead to trouble. As •trotting has been conducted in the past a horse might easily carry stones overweight in one lace and run badly, and next day, with his correct weight, and a more favourable handicap, he' might win. A handicapper could be, and probably has been, misled if the overweight is not declared. The owners of the second and third horses might very well have left the matter alone, seeing that they had not observed the rules themselves. Had they done so Hard Case would undoubtedly have been disqualified, though the omission to declare should, of course, have been pointed out by the scale official.

The handicaps for the • Ashburton County Eacing Club's Autumn meeting and the Christchurch Racing Chib, both the work of Mr J. Henrys, made their appearance on Saturday. It is a pity that this should have been considered necessary. The Christchurch Racing Club's fixture takes place on the 12th, and the Ashburton meeting on the 16th. If the handicaps for Ashburton had been withheld until after the Christchurch meeting better results might have been obtained. Had this been done the Ashburton handicaps would have been available on the 13th, the acceptances could have gone in on the 14th, and thus just have given time to get the books made up and printed. It would have been sharp work, perJiaps, but it is just possible that some horse engaged at both places may show such good form at the first meeting as to lender his success at Ashburton almost assured, and so repeat the mistake that 1 was made at the previous meeting of these two clubs. Dealing with the Chiistchurch .Racing Club's programme I should say tEat Phryne is well treated through Seabrook on Tnnaru lunning. At the latter place Phiyne, in receipt of 91b from SeabiooK, defeated him badly. Now she meets him on 31b worse terms, with a quarter-mile farther to travel, under a heavier scale of weights, which may, peiliaps, be in Seabrook's favour. Her mosa at 10.8 reads well, and these two and Skirmisher may between them provide the winner. Paladin may secure the Ohri&tchurch Autumn Handicap, and Warrington, Cherry s lone, and Lapidary should run well in the Frying Jdanciicap. Perhaps Nor'-wester will appropriate the Selling Handicap, and St. Martin, Lapidarj, and Skhmisher are a likely trio m the Welter Handicap. Wild Poole, Miss Child, and Prince Albert ought to tiot well in the Harness Trot, and Senator, Roxolla,' and Occidental may have something to say in the decision of the One-mile Saddle Trot.

Mr D. O'Brien mercifully destroyed his brood mare Alethe last week. She was the dam of Military, winner oi the Eighth Challenge Stakes. The old mare has been bad for some considerable time, not being able to rise from the ground.

Wee Drappie, the property of Sir G. Chffoid, gob away from his attendant one day last week whilst the breaking tackle was being put on her, but after galloping about for some time, she was recaptured, none the worse for her adventure.

The Ashburton Trotting Club's Autumn meeting was a success in eveiy way. A bettrgf stamp of horses is seldom seen at any meeting. The day was beautifully fine, but the heavy overnight rain had made the track heavy, consequently good times were out of the question. The consideration of protests helped to delay the proceedings, the final event being run in semi-darkness: - The sum of £1013 was put through the totalisator, in 10s tickets. Gambler, a rather good-looking son of General Tracy and Miss Brownwood, comfortably won the opening event, the Maiden Handicap Trot, Mistake II finishing next and Lena Belle third. Scottish Lass, well handled by J. Sharplin, won the Farmers' Plate Handicap, after a pretty, race with Fannywood and Impudence, who finished in the order named. Toronto, who ■was heavily supported, broke repeatedly. Wild Poole, a daughter of Wildwood and Miss Poole. never gave her opponents a chance in the Lagmhor Trot, winning easily from General Grigg, •who trotted splendidly. Jshvilet got right away in the Selling Trot, and, winning easily, was disposed of to Mr Bradford for £15. One of the fmes.t races ever held on the course eventuated between Senator and Hard Case in the Ashburton Trot, the pair racing almost together the, full distance. Senator, who is by Electioneer out of Waikari, had much more pace than his antagonist, but he broke again and again, and when in the straight run ior home he again went up, and Hard Case won an exciting race by three lengths. A dividend of £26 12s was forthcoming to the Kicky investors of 10s each. Linwood defeated a better favourite m King Harold in the Electric Trot, J. H. iLmshing third, and Gillie Riabbach secured ihe Dash Handicap from Sefton and The Amelican, though he had to submit to a protest for inconsistency before being awarded the stake.

G. Matthews is breaking in several youngsters for Mr 3 . B. Reid. Amongst them are the youngsters by Gipsy Grand — Royal Salute, Giv>sy Grand — Sortie, and St. Andrew — Jeannie Deans. Gillie gives every reason to hope that he •will again stand training. Mr D. O'Brien's yearling colt, full bi other to Military, has been broken in. I have frequently referred to this youngster in complimentary terms, and I should not be surprised if he turns out much better than the Challenge Stakes winner.

The Canterbury Trotting Club has decided not to do anything in the matter of the Juvenile Stakes until the annual meeting of the club. The South Canterbury Jockey Chib has decided that its spring meeting shall be held on September 5 and 6, and the Autumn meeting on the Wednesday and Thursday in the week following the Canterbury Jockey Club's Autumn meeting.

The usual monthly meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association was held in Morten's Buildings on Wednesday; present — Messrs Selig (chairman), E. Clarkson, D. M'Lean, A. L. Myers, C. S. Howell, and Rollitt (secretary). F. Smith, who had been injured in an accident on February 16, wrote asking for assistance. Mr Clarkson sixggested that a distinct jockey relief fund should be sequestered from fines and surpluses. It was resolved that the secretary should make inquiries, use his discretion about granting immediate relief, and report to the next meeting. A letter was received from the Hawke's. Bay Trotting Club stating that it had decided, at the association's instigation, to disqualify the horse Haig-O'-Haig and hi& rider for a term, and the trainer, Thomas Hay, for life, for ringing-in. The disqualification was endorsed. Mr Bennetts wrote expressing the surprise of the South Wairarapa Charitable Trotting Club at the association's objection to its affiliation;-- ft claimed the right to dispose of its surpluses according to its own discretion, that was, in donations to hospitals, and Baw nothing in the New Zealand Trotting Association's rules to prevent such a disposal. Mr Bennetts quoted the club's improved financial condition_to substantiate its action. The chairman explained that Rule 26 provided explicitly for -the disposal of surpluses, and the club's action was counter to trotting interests. He was empowered to reply to Mr Bennetts, to draw his attention to the varioiis statements deceived, and to ask for more definite references. Several aJaniications for trainers' licenses were

granted. The treasurer reported that the balance at the bank amounted to £170 14s 6d.