CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 41

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bi r Fritz,

R. J. Mason tells me that Multiform continues to irnpiove, and gallops loand his paddock like a tyro-year-old.

1 have never seen such a collection of thieves as were present at the Amberiey Steepler hase meeting. There are hundreds of tnem in Christchurch just now, but the police appear powerless to do anything in the dnection of piotecting the public from these vultures. The sooner tho law is amended, so that undesirable characters will be made tc work for their living m gaol the better it will be for the community.

Mj.- .P. Holmes, who was badly shaken when Crocus fell with him at Amberiey its now nearly light agem. He has been m the hospital since the uccident. On the previous Saturday he was thrown heavily by the same mare whilst taking part in the Point-to-Point Steepiechase.

A special general meeting of the Canterbury Trotting Club was held on Wednesday evening to discuss the smaigamatioii oi Hie club witn the New Zealand Trotting Club, and it was cecided to appoint a cornrmiieo oi six, consisting oi Messrs '±'. Marr, J. S. Sia.de, W. Ilryward, J. lompkins, H. J". Derrefcc, ana I*\ T. Jrannell to interview a similar number iiom the iNew Zeaiand Club, and leport the result at a further special general meeting. Correspondence between the cnxb and the Lo.onial Secretary was read, from which it appeared that the club, bhiough its president, ugieea to take steps to amalgamate alter tne iw.cionai meeting of the club had been held. It wss evident that the majority oi those present aid not like the idea oi amalgamating, and at one time it appealed that tvs morion -nouid i.oc ba passed. 'Had it not been that several speaKers pomtuj. out tli«. enj u.uo must Keep faith with the Co.oinai Weci clary it would, not have been. Mr Slacle niaue a sensible fepeech, during the course oi which lie urgeci upon members that they must Piter their opinions under altered circumstances. J-hen- peirnit had been granted conditionally on the c^ub amalgamating, and he urgeJ. members to iook at the matter irom a commonsense standpoint. So iar as he coiud see the club had to go, aud the best thing to oo now was to meet the other club and arrange terms ol amalgamation. If the committee proposed to be appointed lepoxted to them tnat / the Metropolitan Club declined to accept ia)r teims tins club co.ild reiu3c to join. It was cairied that the club should asi: the Colonial Secretary for a, peirait to hold a meeting, the pron.es to be demoted to the Jubilee memonai.

The annual meeting oi the Amberiey Steeplechase Club was held at AinberJey on 'j'hursaay. The excursion train horn town was -well patronised, and the beautiful day entice:! the country residents to turn out m toxce. The course has never been m better order, and tLe 'wnoie of tne officials perfoimed their lespective tasks with credit to themselves and to the satisfaction or their visitors. 'fhe totalisator investments fell short of last year's returns, and no wonder, as every other man outside the enclosure was prepared to "" lay the ieald. ' Proverb, ridder by Mr TV . G. Stead, easily defeated a, poor field m the Maiden Hunters' Steeplechpse, for which he started favourite. Saxon made the running uniil close home, when Proveib went up to him and cantered home. Rex II (Mr P. Neagle) has a little to spare from Crash in the Handicap Hurdle Race, winning by a couple of lengths. 1-sal stopped r.t the first fence, and shot his pilot over fhe huidle. Huntingdon gave Mr P. Ivfeagle another comfoiiabie ride m the JBrackenfieicl Plate, the son of Flintlock winning as he liked irorn Rawai and Jack, the latter of whom put up an extra 7lb to secure the services of a piofessional. Cadet (Mr P. Hoirnes) easily won the Ladies' Bracelet from Little Bobs and Wanderer, and Huntingdon again proved too good for the opposition in the Tally-ho Steeplechase. I'leetvvood and Victor were the placed hoises, the other starter, Ciocus, falling when going well. Izal upset the favourite, Rsx 11, in the Hunters' Flat Race, winning by a short head, with third, tne lattei being sent in pieference to Proverb. Saxon wound up the day's sport by easily vanning the Final Handicap Steeplechase fiom Jack and Rawai. The victories of Izal and Saxon were very ponular. 'i'lie entries to hand on Friday last for the C.J.C. classic events shewed a decided increasa all round. Mr T. Morrin is. o" course, the heaviest nominator, and Mr J. F. Reid has nominated a large number oi Elueislie-L^ed youngsters. Mr G. G. Stead, the Hon. J . D. Ormond, Sir George Clifford, Captain Russell, and Mr G. O. Donnelly^a/f all well represented. The entries for the undermentioned events during the past few years axe as follows: —

Tho Middle Park Plate has drawn a capital lesponse from owners, no less than 109 entries being received, whilst the Eleventh Challenge Stakes shows a remarkably fine subscription. A meeting of the General Committee of the Ashburton Trotting Club wss held on Ui» 2-Mi ult. There was a fair attendance, and Mr D. M'Lean was in the chair. It was decided to hold the Spring meeting the clay following the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Show (October 21). As legards the programme, it was agreed to strike out the Selling Race, and to substitute a one mile saddle event, of £25. The club has decided to discontinue the practice of deducting 5 per cent, from the stakes. The two £50 races are open only to horses that can do the distance (two miles) in smin 40sec. Glenogie is galloping in fine style, and he should be in capital condition for his Spnng engagements. Mr J. E. Henrys, the well-known handicapper, who has been on a visit to the hot springs at Hanmer, was present at the Amberiey Steeplechase meeting, going on to Wellington the same night. Multiform is advertised to serve a few mares at a fee of 30gs. Benzoin is going on nicely in his woik, and his stable companions, Bundas, Sara, and Conqueror, are doing well all that is asked of them. Sandhurst, the Bendigo — Engagement horse, is now an inmate of Claridge's stable. So far Jio lias proved a veritable frost. Peerage is once agaiaj^tabled at Lonsdale Lodge. "*■ Hundreds to 14 were accepted about Record Reign for the New Zealand Cup on Saturday. Sant Ilario was quoted at 100 to 10, whilst, if the pencillers had any. .money, . a longer price could be got about Malatua, who has dropped right out of the betting. I do not remember any horse being such a staunch favouiite at thid time of the year as is Record Reign, and there is no doubt of the genuineness ol the support accorded him. The betting transactions this year have been confined to about ten hni^os Probably with the Hawke's Bay and other millings disposed of we shall see a general livening up. , Haria and Skirmisher, in C. Straifoi-d'd

charge, may make the coastal trip at the forthcoming holiday season.

Long Torn, who won the First Hunters' Hurdle Race of the National meeting, has been purchased by Mr J. Parkinson for £SO.

Crash, after running at the Amberiey meeting, was bought by Mr H. Beetty for £45.

■xhe youngster by Occident— Whim has resumed, work.

Nnvana, by Maxim — Hammock, is to be mated with Gipsy Grand.

R. J. Mason's team was on the course last week. Formosan looks well, as also does Sant Ilario.

Mr H. Mace lias gone on a trip to Auckland for the benefit of his health.

The pacing mare Judah has .been served by Almont.

Manton has been sold to a Tasmanian racing man.

At a committee meeting of the New Brighton Trotting Club, held on Monday evening, a programme, providing for the distribution of £800 in stakes, was diatted for a meeting proposed to be held on December 26th and January 1. A sub-commiitee was fozined to cany out the necessary improvements to the stsnd, and Mr Bmikinan was appointed handicapper. The rooms occupied by the local trotting clubs are to let. So far it has not been decided where the new rooms will be located.

' The Plumpton Trotting Club .has decided to hold a two-day meeting on November 2 and 8, when £300 will be given m stakes, an increase of £70, as compared with Isst year. G. Hope, the North Island rider, has joined Mr J. Holmes's establishment at Bangor, where he will attend to the pieparation c f the horses owned by the "Hoiorata syndicate."

Gillie has been sent home to Lciigbeach. Djin Djin is occasionally inquired for. Several wagers have been written about him in connection with the New Zealand Cup. Mr H Mace's mare Puella has foaled a full brother to Almont.

Wanderer md Little Bobs both fell after landing over the qualifying fence at Amberiey on Thursdiy, the two horses and their riders rolling about in a confused heap. Mr Duncan, v*ho had the mount on Wpnderer, when about to rise, caught Lold of the bridle of his opponent's horse, and by so doing piobably saved himself a severe kick, as Little Bob's feet were perilously neai hiru.

Welcome Stakes .. 83 Derby Stakes .. 63 Oaks Stakes . . . . 55 Champagne Stakes 77 76 74 39 71 85 85 54 89 xoaa. 89 67 56 92 xauj 103 93 60 101 Totals