CANTERBURY DOINGS. By Fritz.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 44

CANTERBURY DOINGS. By Fritz.

Several racing clubs in Australia present their totalisator fractions to charities. In Xew Zealand the clubs retain them. The Canterbuiy Jockey Club and some others pay out the sixpences, but the trotting clubs do not. Tiottiug clubs work out their dividends on a 10s basis, if tickets are sold at that figure, and it has been know to work out to lOd, so that on £1 tickets Is Sd is ob i amed, which no club has aright to retain, 10 per cent, being all that i<* allowed them by law. A rich iiistnlutio i like the Canterbury Jockey Club might easily pay the fractions to some charitable body , but the> sole idea appears to be to grab everything. On Eastei Monday heavy rain fell dm ing the progress of the C.J.C. meetnig, and people outside the enclosures got drenched. Is it l.ofc time that the club erected some kind of shelter for tho«e who cannot afford to pay 10s ; It is a landing disgrace that after so many years^of prosperity nothing whatevei has been done for the outside patrons of the club, not even the ordinary and necessary conveniences being attended to.

Se\ei<il times ti.e iepresentati\ es of the procs r.t Puccarton could not follow the judge's decision relative to the distance which separated the placed hones. Tt seems to me that unless finishes aie rom.irk. by close no official should be asked to describe distances, as n is impossible to conectlv gauge them when noises are widely separated. Mr Hartgill is undoubtedly <i tiii'stwortliy ma.i, but he i- placed vi an tuifiur position w-hei asked to enter up how far horses aie separated. Seme people seem to think it is the easiest tning m the world tel measure distances with the eye, but when horses are galloping it is not so. Ttee nci.s of the defeat of Advance 'ii tiie A.J.C. I'latc at Hiidwick on Saturday was not altogether anoxyected, many believing that La Carabine would prove her superiority over three miles. Backers lemained loyal to our champion, however, and of course are now wiser and poorer

E. Catts, in ,i conversation ielati\» to the horsemanship of the l?te Sir Edward Stafford, told me that the deceived statesman was tho best judge of pace lit ever knew, and 111 't thera never had been, so Lit as lie knew, a micr horseman ii New Zealand, "lou see, said th« \eteian, "he had brains."

Is Crucifci-m bettei thau Menscliikoff ' Several have answered the question m the affirmatne, but ppoplo are wont to foiget past deeds, and gn p (he p?im to tlie latest winner. Cruciform is a beautiful, racy-hke filly, but I ana of opinion that the colt is the bettei ol the wuir. riotwithstaijdmg hib two recent defeats by his stable companion at Kiccaiton Ilex pulled up sore after crrapotais; m the Hurdle Race on the first day at Riccarton, and did not start again. This is about the first time the son of Le Loup has not been sent out, so far as I recollect, when he has been on tho ground.

"Wimngton is reported to have covered a. mare on the morning he won the Se-lhng Eacr. at Riccarton. If tins is correct, the horse waa scarcely treated fairly. He is a rare old batr ilex.

Last week I was only able to wire you a short •ccount of the racing on the first day of the C.J.C. Autumn meeting, and I do l^ot propose to add much to my n.otes of the running on that day. The weather on the second day was fine, and the attendance constituted a record for the last day of an autumn meeting. Speculation •was particularly lively, no less than £8102 being put through tire-machines, the amount last year being .£6498, the total for the fixture showing an advance on last season's returns of £3023. Long Tom again made hacks of Dundee and larboard Watch in the Hurdle itace, cantering awaj* from them as he liked. Ssn Patricia easily disposed of her opponents in the Autumn Nursery Handicap, of whom Antigone was the Lest, Wepener finishing third. This is the halfsister to Pampero, and she should materially improve during the months separating us from the spring meetings. Antigone was unaccountably neglected in the betting, considering how easily she scored on the first da,y, the Welcome Stakes winner, Indian Queen, and Margot each receiving more suoport than the daughter of Psyche. Indian Queen 'was never prominent, and it is evident that she has lest her pace for the present. St. Martin won the Yaldhurst "Welter Handicap comfortably from Clytie and Tsaritza, who was sent out favourite. Hewitt's horsemanship had a great deal to do with the success of the son of St. George; but had Tsaritza had a clear ran she might have defeated him. Terrapin, as usual, misbehaved himself at tfa<? post, -and never raced prominently. One of the greatest surprises 8i the meeting was the victory of Palaver in the Great Autumn Handicap. Pampero, despite his 101b penalty, was made a warm favourite, 861 tickets being issued on him of tbt 1784 disposed of at tjhe totalizator. The Napier mare got away last in the Great Easter Handicap and gave no indication that she might triumph over the longer journey. However, she at once took up "the running, and was never headed, winning from the favourite by a length. Pampero was •or.iy a neck in advance of Cameo, and had the Dunedin colt rot been subjected to interference, ho might have won. Strathnaim ran last all the way, and it is evident that there is something wrong with this horse, as on the prevous day he cut out the running at a clinking pace. Skobeloff, Glenaladale, and Huku till raced fairly well, but nothing l-.ad a hope with Palaver, whose win wilJ give her owner acme slight recompense for hi 3 recent bad luck ir losing that fine colt Nobility and in selling Destroyer, who won for his new owner on the following day. Of the aix starters for the Ninth Challenge Stakes, backers looked no farther than Mr Stead's pair, Menschikoff and Cruciform for the winner, as much as 3 to 1 being laid against the latter by the out«ide bookmakers. Menschikoff had overhauled Canme Chiel at the entrance of the straight, but he did not hoH possession long. Cruciform racing ur> to him inside the distance, and easily defeating him to the chair. This result shows the •wisdom of coupling two horses the property of one owner, as it is probable that the bulk of the. investments were really put on the colt. Calibre, in running third, and defeating Cannie Chiel, Somerled, and Canteen, was not dispraced and. this fellow should s>ee a better day. St. Denis secured the Templeton Handicap after a capital finißh ■with Glenogle, Ko"ariuri defeating Mcl wood for the third place. At the distance the race looked a good thing for Glenogle, bat his rider allowed St. Dems, under the whip, to get up on 'the inside. Ismene, the Oaks winner, and Indian Queen, the Welcome Stakes winner, went out in the Addington Plate Selling Race, the former, as was expected, winning comfortably from Warrington, ■who was running on the extreme outside a hundred yards from home, but shortly after- • irards he swerved right across the course — between Ismene and the rest of the field, completely extinguishing any chance they might have possessed. It i 3 a wonder that a serious accident did not occur, as Warrington went right over to the rails and finished in that position. Although there ■was no bid for the crooked-legged daughter of Dreadnought when put up to auction, she was subsequently disposed of to Mr C. J. Watt, of Napier. Hypnotist had no difficulty whatever in appropriating the Final Handicap from the imrdle-racer Social Pest, Benzoin running third, whilst the favourite, Nihilist, was left at the post. Wee Drappie, by Clanranald — Safeguard, owned by Sir G. Clifford, who broke her near fore pastern joint whilst exercising on Saturday morning, was destroyed, on the advice of Mr Hill, veterinary surgeon, who pronounced the case hopeless. At a meeting of the steward? of the Plumpton Park Trotting Club, held last Monday night, the protest enteied against Flora G. in the Dash Handicap run on Saturday, was considered and dismissed, the protest money being forfeited. The explanation of J Pettie as to the driving of Faithful m the Plumpton Handicap on the same day was considered satisfactory. Messrs Pyne and Co. offered by auction on "Wednesday a number of thoroughbred horses. Mr D. O'Brien's lot were all passed in, Malatua at 270gs, Calibre at 180gs, Heriot at 50s;s, G-old at 12gs, and Cavalry, Military, and Caiepon without a bid. Cm account of Sir George Clifford, Scottish 'Minstrel (by Clanranald — Prima Donna) was sold at 200gs to Mr W. Uutherford ; Scotch Mist was passed in at 65gs and Yseult at 25gs. Other miscellaneous lots sold were Rougemont *t 15gs ; Romany at 13gs, Kedan -at 23gs, and a three-year-old colt Stepniak — Illusion, at 14gs. Leather Medal, "Bridanus, Sally, and Blandford failed to find buyers. . Mr Stead* was the chief winner at the C.J.C. Autumn meeting with £1185, the Hon. G. J&'Lean coming next wrth £570. Mr Watt took JE44O, Mr F. Griffin £220, Mr J. Parkinson £200, Sir G. Clifford £15, Mr T. Sheenan £150, Mr "W Spring £135, Mr A. HarriEon £135. Mr I>. Markpy £110, Mr S. Brown £50. Mr D. O'Brien £25. Mr A. Moss £25. Mr W. Davies £20, Mr G. Livingstone £20, Mr H. A. Knight £20 Mr C G. Dalgety £15, Mr D. Rutherford ±'15 Mr W. RutherfoTd £10. During the progress of the Plumnton Park .Trotting Club's meeting the stewards warned several riders and drivers that they must not hold converse with persons when they are on the tracks. The most successful horseman at the C J.C Autumn meeting was L. Hewitt, who, riding Sloan faahioi, had the mount on four winners, R. Derrett and L. Kmp were twice successful, whilst A M'Kay, J. M'Coinb, J. Pine, Ji. Donovan, R. Kingan, F. Scoullar, A. Neale, and W. Twomey each rode one -winner. The pro^-sny of the following sires won the under-mentioned stakes St. Legor. £850. St. Clair, £700; Apremont, £440; Artillery, ' £200 ; Cianranald, £155; Saracen £150; Gorton, £140; Perkin Warbeck 11, £135; Hotchkiss, £135; Stepniak, £130; Medallion £110 ; St. George, £110- Dreadnought, £100; Light Artillery £50; ■Dimtrpon, £20 ; Phaethon, £20 , Musketry, £15 ; Vanguard, £15; Ahua, £15. * Better weather could not have been ordered than that which favoured the Plumpton Pi«rk trotting Club en the second day of its Autumn meeting. The racing was very good, some capital finishes being witnessed. The attendance ; -was better than expected, end the totalisator leturns for the two days amounted to J7454 10s as ao-ainst £4736 "10s for the corresponding meeting last year. St Hilda, in hobbles won •the Maiden Handicap by three lengths from Orphan, who might have won had he not struck himself. Rupee was a hundred yards away in third place. Naughty Girl annexed the Pony Handicap as she liked, Narragansett pnd Evelyn following her home. One of the finest races ever seen on the track eventuated in the, Ewaby Handicap. The imported, horse Boaouv

was installed a decided favourite, and the son of Osterley, going away at a great clip, was well in front of his opponents at the half distance, but from this out Michael Maloae, who has been wonderfully improved of late, gradually drew upon the leader, but it was not untJ nearly home that he asserted his right to leading place, Honour tiring over the last halfmile. Modesty finished at a great pace, and was only two lengths behind the second horse. Unfortunately this mare cut herself at eveiy stride, and how she got through m the condition she was in caused surprise. She would have won without doubt under more favour? b c circumstances. Old Wizard, who trotted well, finißhed fourth, whilsc Lady May also performed well over the first part of the journey. A miserable exhibition m the Selling R^ce saw Jack II win from Buton, who ought to have won, the winner changing hands at £15. The Riccarton Handicap was p«rtially spoilt through the favour.te, Major Hopetoun, Almont, and Rrfca declining to settle clown, Almont loaing a lot of ground at the start. The event went to Vanquish, who thus won her third race m succession, but she only won after a fine race with Royalwood, the consistent St. Simon running next. Almont trotted at a great pace when he started, but it was then too late to win, though he finished fifth. Prince Imperial, fourth, paced nicely, but there is little doubt Almont would have won had he got away. S«Uy Bubli took the Midland Handicap from the fast-finishing General Power and the penalised Naughty Girl. Annie Rooney wits out by herself at the half-distance, but she tired to nothing over the last half-mile, although she was not caught until well in the straight. Strathmore won the Telegraph Handicap pulling up, J. H. and Rita coming next just in front of Mon-te Carlo, and paid the small dividend of iSI 12s. A fine race in the Final Handicap befittingly wound up the meptmec, the event going to the Ashburton horse T\Ta£Eerton with Albert next and Wizard third. At the entrance of the straight half-a-dozen appealed to have a show, but the winner quickly drew to the front and won by four lengths. A protest was entered against Nafferton on the ground that his performance wes not consistent with his showing at the recent Ashburton meeting, the matter being held over until the following evening, when the objection was dismissed, the protest money being returned. * At Ashburton it was estimated that the horse registered about 2mm 52sec , at Plumpton he put up 2min 38sec. This is a great discrepancy, and although I think protests for inconsistency should not be allowed, the difference in form would not have been noticed had the protest not been entered, as none of the club's officials, except the handicapper, were picsent r.t Ashburton. The matter only serves to show how necessary it is that stipendiary officials should be appointed to watch the running. Just after finishing third in the above race the Ota-go horse w izard staggered and fell, and one glance was sufficient to show that he had run his last race. Restoratives were at once administered, but the old fellow only lived a few minutes. How many races Wizard has taken part in I am not piepared to say, but I believe I am correct in stating that he won the Cromwell Derby on the flat some 13 yeais ago. The Canterbury Jockey Club has finished the programme fer the present racing season. The year hae proved a marked success from every standpoint. No less than £19,165 have been given in stakes foT the 11 days' racing, and if the popularity of the club can be gauged from j its totalisator revenue it is only necessary to state that no less than £130,173 was passed through the dredge during the year, an increase of £23,309 as compared with the previous year. Some of the colony's champions have raced at Riecarton during the year including Advance, Renown, Mensohikoff, Cruciform, Pampero, Record Reign, Cpvahero, and many others. The revenue of the club would probably have been much better had they no rival, but the pencillers have tsansacted p. big business at every meeting, and so far as can be judged the club is powerless to eiect them. The remedy ie simple — Why not license reputable men, seeing that they cannot get rid of them. A meeting of the committee of the North Canterbury Jockey Club was held at the Red Lion Hotel, Rangior?, on Thursday evening. Mr M. Scott was n the chair. 'Fourteen new members were elected. It was decided to give up the lease of the racecourse after the coming race meeting. The preparation of the course for the meeting was left to the president (Mr F. Busch) to attend to. It was resolved to exclude bookmakers from the course. The secretary was instructed to arrange for the usual excursion train, ami to engage a brass band, also to dispose of the privileges. The decision to give up the lease of the course after the ensuing meeting does not come as a surprise, as difficulty has of late been experienced in many ways, but I hope the giving up of the lease does not mean the extinction of the club. A number of local trottmg men, in recognition of the treatment accorded them during their recent visit to the Tahunp, Park Trotting Club's meeting by the club's secretary, Mr H. L. James, have decided to present that gentleman -with a handsome electro-plated inkstand., and a fruit dish will be given to Mrs James. The articles will probably be sent to Dunedin to-morrow morning. The Christchurch Hunt Club opened the present season on Saturday, when the weather was anything but suitable for the sport. A strong north-west wind blew the whole day, and besides -making matters very unpleasant, made the scent very difficult to follow. The meet was at Mr G. Witty's fsrm at Templeton, where the party were entertained at luncheon, after which Mr C. Palairet, who was acting as master, in the absence of Mr Lyons, called for cheers for Mr and Mre Witty, which were heartily given. Before a start was made the master addressed those who were to follow, and pointed out the necessity of protecting as far as possible the property of the farmers, who had given permission to hunt over their fields, and asked the riders to avoid paddocks containing either potatoes or turnips. Mr J. H. Selby was huntsman, and Mr G. Clark acted as whip. Three of Mr Witty's paddocks were gone over before a hare was found, but, after a short run, puss secured her liberty. Another hare was started, and took the field along at a merry pace through the piopertie3 of Mrs Heywood and Messrs Muirhead and M'Leod, to the Lawford Estate, where several moie hares got up, and the hounds were whipped off. At the last lump into the road old Fleetwood came down, giving the whip a nasty fall, and rendering him hors de combat. Dr Crosbie attended to him, and found that he was very badly bruised on the point of his right shoulder, ond otherwise shaken. He was immediately sent home, and the party repaired to Lawford, where they Were entertained pt tea by Mr and Mrs Bond. The ground was, rather hard, and very few o£ the horses were in condition, so that it was decided not to proceed further. About 30 ladies and gentlemen followed, and there were a number of lookers-on in traps and on horseback.