CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 41

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Ftitz

October 3.

The week, with many absent at Wanganui find Geraldine, has been a quiet one in town, chough the inveterate backers of horses kept themselves fiom complete stagnation by trying to pick — and back — winners at Waipawa and Geraldine. The racecourse at Orari r.ot being a public reserve, the Geraldine Club has power to admit or exclude whom it chooses, and on this occasion it chose to exclude bookmakers. Several of 'the lesser lights of the metallic fraternity, however, were operating on the spot, while several substantial commissions were wired from the nearest office to the various betting centres. Unless these telegrams made better speed than the press messages to 'the evening. 1-ini^r.i-o. poise of the senders will have found their money " not on."' lac vjeisudine fixture was not favoured. with excursion fates by the, lailway authorities, and bookmakers being" ban ed, few Christchurch people attended the meeting— a gieat change from the old days. TJie weather, too, both north and south', on the first day, was wet, and the attendance was consequently almost wholly local; that it was above 'that of last year, shows that the club is not dead yet. This conclusion is supported by the ifact that nearly .£4OO more than at last Spring meeting was put through the totalisator (which was worked, as for many yeprs past, by Messrs Mason and xtoberts). The financial result was probably satisfactory, and had the weather been propitious, would have been better still. The fields on the first day were small, a consequence of defective handicaps, lor which, however, neither Mr Dowse nor the officials of the club are to blame The results of the Ashburton racing the previous week were duly forwarded to Mr Dowse, but some of them did not reach him until after his handicaps had to be telegraphed. A circuit of closely-following lacemeetings is, no doubt, a convenience to owners, but it has its drawbacks. Experience will no doubt suggest means by which the difficulties may be overcome. The racing was, on the whole, The stewards, at any rate, cannot reproach themselves with having winked at any conspicuousiy '•stiff" running.- Consequently, the performances at the meeting were very well described by the results. In the old days the meeting was reckoned to supply a key to the ICew Zealand Cup, but those days are gone.However, it 13 quits probable that the Oaks winner was disclosed this year. Mr Enighl'-s Clytie (Phaeton — Neroli), to whom I allude, w.on the chief handicap .each day with a good dial to spare, as it took all her jockey's poweis to keep her back with her Reid in each race, and she won each in good style. She is still rather narrow, but of great galloping lines, and it will be disappointing if she fails to shine in more important events. Her dual success means much for the owner of her sire, as Phaethon is located in the neighbourhood, and he could not have had a better advertisement. There are few good niares, unfortunately, in the district. Nihilist was second to Clytie in both events, his consistent lunning having at last earned him a weight which stopped hira. The pubic do not yet fully appreciate Proposal. Had the start for the Squatters^ Handicap, which opened the meeting, been delayed a second or two, First Blood would have outdone her in the betting; while in the Stewards' Stakes on the second day her price was ridiculously false. She won both events as she pleased. First Blood, it must be admitted, was not at his. best, though backed in each of his engagements; while Cameo's position in the Stewards Stakes shows that Huku, whom he defeated in the Belfield Handicap, can have no earthly chance in the New Zealand Cup. 'St. Denis scored his two victories in brilliant style. The Orphan ran two good races, but Warrington did not show such dash as he had been displaying recently, and Seabrook was quite out of form. Constance is a particularly smart hack.

The Geraldine Trot, won by Miracle Jack (by Mambrino Mac), was a closely-contested race, but the other three trots at the meeting were won easily. Secrecy, winner of the Orari Tiot, is one of the lot brought over a few weeks ago by C. Piper from Mr JYA. Buckland's stud, and is by St. Louis from Secret: Mambrino King is by Mambrino Mac from Jenny Tracy, and Eltee More is by Electioneer. H. G-oodman arrived on "Wednesday with Cherlystone and Transport. The latter is voted a greatly improved colt. Messrs Crossan and M'Kewen went on from Geraldine to Dunedin with their teams, including St. Denis, Proposal, Nihilist, and Isal — a. very useful quartet, as I believe the last-named is better than he has hitherto been taken to be.

"The rain of Friday and last night has stopped work at Riccarton, but if no more falls, the tracks will be workable in a day or two. . All the Cup horses here are looking well. -It was- feared that Huku was hurt when he was

almost brought down by Clytie stumbling in (front of him in the Spring Handicap at Geraldiue, but he was sound enough this morning.

There is promise of a good day's sport at the Ohoka and Eyreton meeting on Thursday. I like the chances of the following: — Hunters' Flat Race, Redan; Ohoka and Eyreton Handicap, Paladin; Two Mile Trot, Veto; Hack Selling, Rase, Veionica; Mandeville Welter Handicap, Belligerent ; One Mile Trot, Albert ; District Welter Handicap, Camel; Flying Handicap, Bonaparte.

Sub Rosa having sustained a slight injury, will not start at Ohoka.