CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2527, 20 August 1902, Page 46

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bt Fsitz.

Everything tlmt could possibly conduce t»

the thorough enjoyment of National week we* vouchsafed to the thousands of visitors who come from far and near to witness the racing at the Canterbury Jockey Club* New Zealand Grr.nd National fixture. A more representative body of bportsmin lies never visited Riccaxtoa at this time of ths year, the Xorth Island contributing even more than its enstomnry quota, Auck.and, Marlbo«mgh, and the "Wellington provinces bciug in great force, whilst Otago, Seuthland. and West Ccast forces confronted on« at every t«rn. The weather waa beautifully fine, if slightly cold, on each day, and though thj course was a litt'e bit holding on the first day :t improved as the meeting wore on, and lcrmed splendid going on th« nnal day. Then, too, the quality of the respective fields was ■11 that could be desired, and it is safe to say that never before has a finer field contested the great race of (he fixture — the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase. The management was a3 usual up to its usual high standard, the all-round hand:capping was good, the judge's placing correct, and the starting what it siiculd be. As usual, the North Island contributed the majority of the horses seen out at the meeting, and a.so, as usual, rwneie ncross the strait 3 took away the lion's share of tho prize money. On the first day tho Winter Cup, the Grand National Steeplechase, &nd the Enfield Steepl?chase woro won by North Islandowi.ed animals, whilst First Shot, v.ho changed hands just before tho meeting, w»3 also trained in the north. Shellback won the Summer Huftdicap (second day), Titoki the August Hand'eap, Tresharo the <3-r*nd National Hurdle Race, Sultana the Beaufort Steeplechase^ Scotty the Islington Handicap, and Tteeham tho Junipers' Flat Race. Ou the third day Fleka wo i the Heathcote Hcndicap, and Man* the Sydenham Hurdle Race, Sultana the Lincoln Steeplechase, .and Smithy the Final llurdle Raci. Thus, out of a total of 24 races, 13 vent to the north, almost all the valuable ptnkca^ going • nto the pockets of northerners. This i?et may be somewhat rcgrettab'e from a southern point cf view, and 1 r.hculd have been pleased to ccc southern owners more succesrftil, but when our visitors bring down th» hep.l cattle it naturally and fairly follows thsfc they should secure an equal monetary benefit. Southern owners mnke but sl : gtt efforts to tram horses over conntry, whilst i,ur friends oversea Iny themselves out year xfter year to win our principal laces, especially at the Grand National fixture. There 16 not one- nearly firstclass steeplechase horse in this island, and has rot been foe come considerable time. Sinew the Grand National Steeplechase has been decJded at Riccarton 12 of the 15 races rnn hova been wo/i by North Island horses, and ainoa 1P.90 eight of the Grand National Hurdle Rac» vi< tors hailed from the north. The Winter Cup, the principal flat Taco of the meeting, was annexed, as it was last year, by a torthe/Ber, and South Island owners require to put their sbeulders to the wheel if they deoire to hold their own. An army of bookmakers transacted a tieinendous amount erf betting right alongside the legalised reaping machine, both insida a.nd outside the enclosure, otherwise the totalisator investments for the three days would probably hsve shown a Itirg-e increase on tho turnover of. last year. As it was there was » decrease of .£3596. .The -corararison fer the twoi years is as. .follow 3_- —

1902. 1901. First d^y .. .. ;. £15,667 •• -£16,395 Second d?y • .. .. 13.567 12 51-1 Third day" .. .. 12,819 14 213 • £-39,583 £43,179 Ths winner of thp Grand National Steeplechase, like may nt'ie- horses who i ay* 1 won the> race, graduated from the* ranks c-f hurdlers, and it will bo lemcmbered that last year afe the National fixture he won the b'g hurd!e> race and then went cut under a ueavy burden and again flfished first post the post. Since that time he hns done but Jittla, p.ed 1 c hed never ]Teviotißly started m "a. tteeplochaee until h« essayed the heavy task of jumping the .Riccarton country. Reports from the north had prepared us to anticipate thai Haj-dn would piova on his schooling work that he could jump thu uroomprornising fences, and during ths -whole> ot his schooling he never put a foot wrong. A. lew days bsfore the meeting he became an established favourite, and how well he deserved the position is shown by the gallant manner in which he won tha 650sovs. On '•ha whole ha jumped cleanly and well, and the merit of his success is enhanced by the fact that at one o£ the -fences he severely cut one of his fore feet. The son of Sou'-wjster held a frood position throughout tho entire journey, and when its came to racing home on the flat, Pipi could not hold him, and he won one of the finest races ever seen on the course, and covered tho dii-fance n 7miu 25 2-ssec. Haydn - did not run. again at the meeting, his owner not caring to take any risk, the horse having cut one of his feet. It muy not be amiss, perhaps, to insert » table of previous winners, and a glance at the times recorded will show that, <onsidering the nature of the going., Haydn legistered a capital pc-rformance —

11 fill > X gs pa ta S 1 ktlb.l ni.s JgsßiMatie*ohane 12 2 H?ck*-y 9 ».2S> ISM* Chemist 12 7,RtiuiKham 11 9.13 1890 Daddy i a nm Lcnslegs 9 7.T. Lyford 6 10.27 1«91 Freeman 9 2jW. Cl-rk 12 8 2^i lM»2Ahua 11 9! W. Clark 13 7.42 3SSI3 Waterbury 10 2 G.Hope 13 B.»i l«WNoiton 12 B|W. Clark 7 80J 1895 Mut'i>y 11 SG. Hope 8 7SS 189S Mutiny 12 4G. Hope • 7.28 38WTi-van-.er 12 6J. Rae 16 7.283-5 JB*S Dummy 10 13 P. Johnson 10 7.25 1598 BUckVerry 10 6J. Redmond 9 7.4045 1900 The Guard 10 6W. N»ylor 13 7.251-5 1801 G bo 10 MR. Arcott 8 7.101-5 19ttt|Haydn 10 »{B. Fergus 14 7.252-5 Pipi ran a remarkably fine race, and recorded a performance quite good enough to win eight out of ten steeplechases. From the fall of the flag the Natator — Cockles horse cut out the running at a strong pace, and, co far as could be seen from the stand, he cleverly and quickly, jumped and led his opponents over every fence in the long and tiring journey. Undoubtedly Pipi broke up the majority of the field, and his connections were unfortunate in meeting just one horse able to defeat him. H. Carr, who rode the southern horse, hftd had one of his feet badly bruised when Tutfto ctnic down with him in the Hunter3 7 Hurdle Race, rode fc sterling race, and when he dismounted he could scarcely stand. A man and his horse need to bo in the best of health and condition to respectively ride and jump in such a trying race, and Carr deserves a word of praise. P'pi, in hia other t&ccs, was allowed to run at the rear of hi 3 field, but, judging by the success which had previou3*y attended the forcing tactics e/Ucpted, it is probable that a mistake was made. However, his exertions in the big racft might ha-e taken some of the gteel out of him, and of course his position in the National i.ecessarily meant subsequent increased V.urdene. The Swimmer is certainly the fctrallesl and perchance the coiwmoneet-look-r ng horse that haa tvw been asked, is ion auoU

» rice as the Grand National Steeplechase. "With his weak arms and thighs, narrow, ponified conformation, and general all-round appearance, to say nothing of his hog anane and banged tail, he presented the antithesis of what is generally considered to cover the requirements of a, cro3»-country horge. I iiave never Been a finer example of the truth of fas old saying- that they gallop (and I might add jump) in all shapes. He is a fine jumper cvnd he possesses a fair amount of pace, and taking everything into consideration, the little jellcw put up a great record when he finished third and defeated the strong field opposed to him. Unfortunately the Captain Webb gelding toppled over in ilia remaining engagements. «nd the SOaovs he won in the Grand National cr institutes his 'winning record. The Guard ziever looked or galloped and jumped better than he did (for nearly three Trifles, but the first of the Kennels double brought him down ■when his prospects were clecidadly bright. He wrpeared to be travelling well within himself vhen he raced into second position, and though there were many who- suggested that hi a distress brought him to earth inquiries made t'niongst the other liders in the race eont3>!etely set at rest this assumption, as they t.U rgree that the son of Varguard could *-areely have lost had he fenced correctly. ?£owever, he fell, and spoils to the victors in each a race means correct fencing. He> did 3 ot race again, *s ha fall was somewhat severe. Molfaa^ fenced fairly weil until he attempted to •take liberties, which., left him- on. the ground, sid he "was not again aeen otrt. CavaJiero ; .-tirped slowly, p.-nd seemed to dislike his task ; '""armoogate and: Plain 1 Bill -wcra never pro-3-^ioent, and wbilstVtce latter was sent oat Iwice afterwards, htfleil once and wac' badiy us»ien in his tfafrd essay. Plain Bill did not :«rain ca«ry silk. C?ob»-TMi a fair race in the finishing, forerth*. and afterwards ran in a similar posrtioa, in the Jumpers' Fist Bace. Huku fenced correctly in the Grand National, running sixth, but hs bad no hope •whatever in the big hurdle race. The Phantom Tan creditably in the Steeplechase, and was closw behind Gobo at its termination, but he came down oa the second day, and met with no success on the third- Straybird, a usually eafs conveyance, came down at the second ience in the National, was badly beaten in the T>eaufort Steeplechase, and after making almost ■Iho whole of the running ia the Lincoln Steeple- j chase had to be content with second place. Xiochade did not run prominently in either of Ins engagements, and he fell at the stand double on the second day. Avrahuri, a big, Tiowerful horse, was unabk to look at the jeaSers in the big race, and when leading in the JJeaufort Steeplechase hf came a cropper at Ihe *od wall. On the third day he could only finish third in the Lincoln Steeplechase. Sultana, after being defeated by Shylock in the XlnSeld Steeplechase, won the Beaufort Steeplechase. In th : - ovent it was generally thought that she was % t in losing the opposition of Cannongate, ' 7 wimmer, and Awahuri, the I two fi rat-name* \ •vhom appeared to be going i •well- half a mile \-a home. However, on the j third day, in the Lincoln Steeplechase, she again triumphed, and as Cannongate, who was meeting her on 91b better terms, was beaten l>adly, it is £air io assume that the daughter tsi Gay Deceiver would in any case have -won iha Beaufort Steeplechase. Her connections oughi to have secured a. good win, as elie paid over £4Z on the first und £1Q Us on her second ■uecess-. Shyffcek won the Bnfield Steeplechase, imt. did not subsequently increase his owner's cheque, and Hut&na, Schnapps, RoHct, and Slow Tom, each of whom contested open steeplechases, either fell or refused to jump. No sooner did Tresham moke hi 3 appearance than lie v/n» pounoed upon as a. good thing for the Grand National Hurdle- Race. He was in rare condition, and though a little on the leg, he is a fine stamp for hurdle racing or BteepLechosing, and if he keeps sound, it is quite possible that he may follow in the footsteps of Haydn and next veer win the Stcepleobose. His slightly roached hack suggests £reat strength, and as he is only a five-year-old, it is certain thct we have not heard of 'the last of his victories. How he won thia race is now a matter of history. AH the way he was well up, and when lie got rid of Scottish Minstrel's attentions he strode up to and over the last fence lull of running, and, going on, he simply cantered home by about eight lengths in advance of Mars. An easier win could not posoib!y b« imagined. The following are the winner 3of the race: — Year Horse. Weight Kidir. Time. s'- lb ra. •- 7R90 Ixion 10 2 T. Stewa-t* B C-o 3M>l Couranto 30 0 Redmond 352 :!*.<£ Kulsine 11 G W\ Clark 4 0 ]»9i Liberator 10 10 PowMl 355 JBM Liberator 12 6 F Holmes 4 5} 3335 Don. M 'Kin son 10 3 A-hdo«n I 54 389 d Dummy 912 P Jobnsoo 3 59$ 1897 lTra*loi,o«aa» 9 5 R Kiusau 553 2^5 1898 Social Pcs t 10 13 W. Clark 353 1899 Defiance It 0 WUlums 356 2-5 1900 Record Kelgn 12 12 W Cl«rk 3 45.T5 1601 Haydn 11 0 \V F^hey 3f5 4-5 390Z I Trerijtm 10 0 A. Julian |3 55 4-5 That the Catesby hcrae can nrnstcr ■up » great amount of pace waa shown ■when he put tip his 71b penalty and simply played" with his- antagonists in tha Jumpers' PW Race. On this form he- was certain ly "Uulucky in tlie Auckland Grand Netionai Hurdle Kace, in which he fell at the la»t fence vhen looking ail over a winner. His owner declined to s-ccept the handicapper's opinion of Tiephem-'a ability in future engagements; but in nay opinion Mr Edwards threw *w*y ithe Sydenhcm Hurdle prise. For beating Mars by eight lengths he was asked to give the latter 161b, and had Tresham started, I do 'not see how he could have lost. Mars ran two good races, finishing second to Tresham uiid then winning the Syd-enham Hurdle IWe. Previously the resuscitated son of In-goina-r had run three seconds — to Royal Conqueror in the R-emuera Hurdles, to tac same horse in the A.R.C. National Hurdle Race, and then to Treaham. "Wniwers. finished very «trong!y behind Mars in the National, but ha failed to foot .it with the leaders in the Sydenliam race. Scottish Minstrel annexed the Maiden Hurdle Race in mco style; but the Clanran&ld horse found the distance just too far in the Grand National. He waa alongside Tresham less than half a mils from home, but after negotiating the last fence he gradual!}died away. A similar fate awaited him iv the Sydenhara Hurdle Race, in which lie finished tt ird ; but his prospects were not increased by ■being eeverely kicked previous to going cut. Surrey ran well in each of his races. He was fifth iin the National, second in the Maiden, and third in the Final Hurdle Race, and perchance he would have fared better had he been raced in hunters' hvrrdle events. Last year this horse, piter missing the Maiden jHuVdle9, won two hunters' events Cavaliero and Royal Conqueror did not show up well. The former carried too much weight in the Lig race, «nd after tb« tatter's bad display in the Jumper*' Flat Race his subsequent prospects did sot receive much attention. He hos evidently gone off since he raced at "Wcllingtorwand Auckland. Battleaxe raced fairly well in the National Hurdlea, pulling up in seventh position, and Long Tom, who waa never near the leaders in the big hurdled, was beaten by Smithy m the Final Hurdle Race. Kohunui shaped fairly well in the National, I running sixth, but his form did not justify the quiet tip" going round that he could win. Winsome ran third in the Maiden Hurdles, «nd afterwards filled a. eimilsu position in the

Selwyn Flat Race. Strathnmirn disgraced himself both lover hurdles' and on the flat, and Wonderful is evidently nofc much account. The ancient Skipper cut cut a strong pace in the Sydenham Hurdle Race, and he was not beaten by Mttrs until he had cleared th» h>.st fence. Slow Tom was much the best of th» hunters' hurdlers seen out, and lie -won the first and second events set apart for that class of horse with comparative ease. He failed, however, to hold his end up in the Hunters' Plate Handicap Flat Race. Hurricane ran consistently in all his engagements, finishing second to Slow Tom, second to Tresham, and -then won the Third Hunters' Hurdks Race. Phaetonkis is & fair hunter, but when holding a chance in his last engagement on the third day he came down at the last obstacle. Inchcape ran second to Hurricane, and wound up by winning the Hunters' Plata on the flat. Skobeloff, a most disappointing horse, was not asked to jump, and the best be could dp was io run. third to such a. horse aa Hurricane and second to a hunter like Inchcnpo. When this horse was sold for 200gs at Yaldhur3t, several wagers were accepted at 100 to 5 that tho biothor to Menschifcoff would wir the Grand National Hurdle Race So far be ho? never shown the slightest aptuude for jumping, atidi it would seem that fc^ims lost hia pace. First Sliot canjump weil or stay, and after winning ths Wool-s-ion Plctd he failed miserably in his other races. St. Reef, Single- Event, and Call Boy only- regis-terad moderate performances, and Waimera is troubled with the slows. The southern Tiorae Tafto came oa bi<* head in tbe first r»ce, and subsequently belied th© reputation he was ccneudercd to- hold. The Soldier is fast, and a. fair iumoer, but cannot say, and G. B. O. is slow. Tliis horse had th.c misfortune to eith&r put his feftock out of joint, o? br-ealr'his off-fore leg when pulliMjup in the Hunters' Plate; but tfco injured leg xsss. subsequently tied up, aad the horse then hobbled away.

Zither waa by far the fastest of the htinticg brigade competing over the big fences. He cams down in. his first engagement, Lut lie won the other two just as ho liked. Br»b, who wc-3 mirchßsed by Mr "W. H. P. Woodroffe prior to the meeting, wen the Ta-lly-lio Steeplechase on the first <lay, and after being defeated by Zither, he fell at the first of the stand doublo on the last day. Pit-chinp on the top of his head, he broke his neck, but fortunately his ridei- was thrown clear. Doopey ran well, birt 'little need he said of Mararawa, Ahiki, Mochacic, Br«S3, Epsom Lad, The Whip, and The Beaver.

A capita! field went out to contaa-t the principal flat race of meeting — the Winter Cvn — Ostiak. Si-e^e Gun, Scotty, Blazer, tbe coupled peir (Windwhistlfi and Somerl-ed), and Tbe Shannon receiving most suooo-rt. Ostiak. who went out looking remarkably well, led ■until right on the post, when Waiwhera, racking a I great rush, just beat him by a noee. It cerI tninly appeared that Ostiak should have won easily, as Jenkins was setting still all up the j straight, looking arour.d at t-ho% behind him. I However, ths eoi of S*eon:B.k does not liko to be driven along, and it is possible, of course, that had he been asked for an .effort, it -would would not have been forthcoming. Waiwhera is on« of those charming North Island "hacks," but his victory over Ostiak formed his only placed perfornmTi'w. By-the-way, his owner, Itr Palerson, horl a- bi?s win ova* tbe success ' cf his horse. Field Battery -and The Shannon ran third end fonrth respectively, but Blazer was rvever promirent in tliis or hia subsequent engagement, and- it i» evident that he was not quite ready. Scctty finished well, though he was oii'y sixth, whilst Siege Gun, who got into n, bad r>l-ac<? running round the top turn, finished well. Blazer was sen* out favourite in the August Handicap, but old ColdsouT at once took up the running, and wes only r -nuffed out by Titoki in the la.=t few Btriil»3. Th«» o'd hor?e puccessful'y contested the Sclwyn HapcJicap the last day, but he only barely managed to scrape home from Wind-whi»t!-e. Cfibidering that the eon of Rubezahl waa palpa-biv sore, h« registered two fine pcrformaTices. Scotty t»ot home in the Ishnsrton Handicar* frrm the southern hor^t* Ardnarff, Fleka filling third position, and> Flek* Eecured the Heathcote Handicap on the third day. Somerled and Cora I»:ac running: second ond third resneetively. Th« laot-narr.ed might have -won had she not got badly placed at the half-d;*tance. When sba cot out the nisd9 a nice run. and was e-longside Fleka sOydq from home. First Shot yon the Woolston Plate as he liked, from Lapioarv, Dauntless anil Blarney (two resuscitated ones), also starting. Shellback, who finie-hed secon-d t-o Scylia u\ th-e Ladies' Bracelet, won the Samcer Hnndioap from Scyllft, Count o! Kolmar taking third place. There were many falls during the orogTess of the rceetiug, but though some of them, appeared to b<s serious fortunately none of the T'ders were» badly injured. • Mr R» E. Harley was the most successful j horseman, with five wins, F. Lirid coming next | •with tbrae. F. CochranA and A. Ju'saa each rode two winners, whilst J. Stewart., J. Graham, T. O'Brien. F. Davis. J. M'Cbmbe, G. Prica, M. Ryan. Mr J. H. Selbv. T. Wilson, S. Fergus, Mr B. MacdooeJd, and Sir G. L. Stead rode one winner each. The following are the ■winning owners — Mficmavemm and Sa-hsbury. £600. D. .Edwards, £170: R W. Paterson, £400. E. Rosseil. £310, T. Oodfrov, £250; K. D. O'Rorke, £235; W <). .Rutherford, £140, iliss BuUon, fl20; D. Stewart. JCI2O . Mrs Quinhvan. £120; W. Rathbone. £130, P. R. Baldwin. £W ; A G Ho'tnes, JC9O; S Brown. &0; H. Roberts. £«> , S. H. CJollan. ££0; D. Gordon, £75; Mr« H Fnedlji.der. £60, G. O'Mall"v, .£55: G. H Franks, £'<>; ». Spouse. GO; H. R. P«<-kinf=on. £50; W. O'Sulhvjn. £30; Sir G. Clifford, £40; A. Kendcrsov,, £30, W. Blackmore, £25. J. O'Dnscoll. t25, IT M-T.ean £20; J Merry, £20; L. Rutiedsc, f2fl : o P. r>onnellv. x3O . J. Parkinson, £20. C G Da'pfty. £15. T. H. Lance £10; H. Friedlander. £10; S. WiUon, £10, W. G. Stead and G Palmer, £10, M. Hcbb?. £10. Tlie fol!o--ving Is Iho winning *-ire< hH fcr the mseting: — Sou'-v?est<-r, £G00 ; Catepby, £470; Quilt. £KH>, Gay De-.-eiver, £510; InpoxD3T, £225; Clanrar.ald. £XBQ, Stt-DMak", £160; Gtrton, £H5; Natat.n-. £130; St. Lejjer. £120; St. Ives. £120; Rubezhal. £120; Purni, £120; St. Andrew, £110, Wapiti, £90, Flageolet, £90; Treason, £80: Nelson. £30, Chaoa, £50; Armament, £50; Captain Webb, £50; Wanderer, £50; Pcrkin Wa-rbeck 11. £30; Gir>sy K;ne. £'25; .Hotchkias, £-25; Karwhaka, £20; Artillery. £20; Cuirassier. £20; Asoot, £20, I'itzbcrrulea, £20, Fleur-de-lis. £10, Wcitmere, £10. Phaethon, £10; Foulahot, £10, and Cap3.-~>\~, £10.-— iotal. £3970. Mr If. R«dwoed, wbo w»? a visitor io the Grar-d National mT-ting;. intends, he says, to s-tay h«i-i> ai'iothcr week. He is thoroughly en- , jcymj; his long-defevred visit to Canterbury. I Mr V. Harris decided on Saturday to shoot \ Redoubt, who had become uartially paralysed. On the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Troting Club's meeting Csrl got j away fro-31 hie driver and galloped round the track several times The number of idiots who -tried to stop him only oer3naded him to keep turmr.e round He then found hiF way into the saddling paddock, and after bolting tLiougli another gate made his t« ay to the entrance, but tho gate? were shut, fid he was driven into a corner, after galloping a good many nn!ea. The Ciiristchurch Gun Club's National meeting waa held on Monday and Tuesday at the Metropolitan Trotting Club's Grounds, Addington In fine tra&fcher. The number of com-

petitora was very large, and a great deal of interest was taken in the shooting by numerous spectators. On Monday the match for the president's diamond medal and a stake of £99 was fired, but as three competitors, Messrs Eccles, Henderson, and Graham, tied for first \ place, and nine for fourth, the conclusion of the match had to b3 postponed until yesterday. Tho first, second, and third money prizes were divided by the three leading competitors, and in the shoot-off for the medal Mr Henderson killed his three birds and won the match. Mr I Eccles, who missed his third bird, was second, ! and Mr Graham gained third pla^e. Of the j nine who shot off 'for fourth place, Mr J. Simpson, was successful, killing 16 birds straight out. Mr J. M'Carfhy with 15 was fifth, and Mr i A. Sharp with 13 sixth. The names of tho competitors and thoir scores are as follow : — W. Henderson, 24yds, 19; E. H. Eccles, 30yds, 19; E. P. Graham, 29yds, IS; J. Simpson, 24yda, 18; J. M'Carthy, 23yds, IS; A. Sharp, 21yds, 18; J. Z. Boult, 28yds, IS; 'Nelson, Q6yds, 18, D. Fraser, 32yd3, 18; P. Mason, 27yds, 18; G. W. Dean, 23yds. 18, D. M'MUlan, 22yds, IS; J. Dobson, 27yds, 17; A. H. Kimber, 22yds, 17. The following also shot:— E. Stead, 24yds, 17; B. Greer, 24yds, 16; F. Whittle, 27yds, 16; L. G. Gardiner, 22yds, 15; T. Karney, 22yds, 15; C. Chavannes, 30yds, 14; R. J." Whittle, 27yds, 13; O. Hunter, 23yds, IS ; W. H. P. Wcodroffe, 2>iyde, 13 ; J. Cameron, 21yds, 11; *Cashmore, 24yds, 9; *Blue Rock, 25yds, 8; W. Anderson, 2*>yds, &; J. Burgess, 26yds, 5; •Newlunds, 23yds, 4; F. Nurse, Slyda, 2; P. Rubury, 25yds, 2. (* Assumed rame.) At the conclusion of the National Match, a Handicap Sweepstake of £1 each was nred, and -was won by E. P. Graham (31yds), who killed 11 bird* with his first barrel. A special general meeting of the New Zealand ' Trotting Association was held on Wednesday , evcrang; present. — Messrs P. Selig (president, in the. chair), D. M'Lean, C. E. Calcutt, C. S. Howell, E. Clarksoo, and A. L. Myers. The Chairman said that the meeting had baen called to further discuss the Ma-jor Robin-Fancy Free case. After evidence had been taken the inquiiy was further adjourned. At a niaeting of the Committee of the New Brighton Trotting Club last evening, it was . decided lo nominate Messrs E. Clarkson, G. H. M'HafSe, D. M'Lean, P. Salis, and C. Wilson as members of the New Zealand Trotting Association, and that Messrs H. M'llraith, S. j Slade, and W. Smithson should represent the I club at the confereuca Tsgaruing the selection ' of dates for future meetings.

The following gent'emen have been nomiroted for seats on the Trotting Association Board : —Messrs G. Bisset. E. Clarkjon, C. Calcutt, Hon. H. Gourley, Messrs W. G. Garrard, C. S. Howell, G. King, A. L. Myers, J. H. Pollock, D. M'Lean, P Selig, and L. Wilson. With the exception of the Hon. H. Gonrley (Dunedm) and Mr J. H. Pollock (Wellington) th- candidates are local residents.

' There was a large attendance to witness the racing on tho second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting on Wednesday. The weather, though cold, was fine, and the track had improved considerably since Saturday, -when the meeting began. Better racing has never been vriiressad on any ground, the struggle for second place in the principal event iferruing a. prominent feature of the gathering. Unfortunately, two unavailing protests marred tte proceedings, but otherwise the fbeturs was mo3t enjoyable. The sum of £Glli Wa was put through the machines, as against £7763 for the corresponding day last yenr. The Dunedin Lorse Bavon Rothschild ' waa sent out favourite for tho Trial Handicap, but though, he held a prominent position all through the Tace he "was beaten by the Austialian horse Bill, who was net allowed to start on the first day owing to his papers not being in. pTon<sr order, but this being cleared up '•'c went T!ut and won. A -Drotes* was ertered on the ground mentioned, but this was dismissed. Polly IT won the Pony Handicap corafortablv from Little Harold, Little Eva third.

j St. Simon ar.d A'l Day b^jjan well iv the ; Metropolitan H&ndicirs <he former taking charge; passing the stand. All Day, Little Archie, and Bol<Jr<*«rood coming i ext, whilst Ribbonwod and 'What, both of whom had vassed Monte Carlo, were racing next. St. S*n)ori drew furthec ?,vrav going luund the first lap. the other positions beine unaltered at the htli-distance, except that Ribbonwcod and What, who were troltine; at great sueed, had drawn nesurer to the leaderi. St. Simon was we'i out from All Day pjnd BoJdrewood a lap from home, with Ribbonwood and V.'hat quick'y closing on the second division. Ribbonwocd iras blocksrl on the lail turning into the back stretch, a-nd What went up a'org3ide Bo!drcwcod, Atl Day failing away. Running for the straight St. Simon was out by himself, and a great finish, for recand place hstweert Boldrewood, What, and Ribbonwood resulted in Ihe last-named just defeating What, whilst Boldrewood was only a neck, away frijrth. Black Child, Zinskj, and Baron Rothschild fought out a keen contest in the Halsveil Handicap until they landed m the straight, but here Black Child and Baron Rothschild ■went up and Zinska won by three lengths. A protest waa entered against the winner on the pround of inconsistency, out the cbjection was d : £alTo-wPfl. Another roost inter?=ting Tacp took place betveen Rexie and Lady Retford in the Spring Handicap, but ths fonnar had tno3t j^ace over the last half mile, and fscured the «tako by six lengths, bat h-d Lady Rebford kapt down the finish would have bef-n much closer. At th© half-distooc? of the Middle lon llaiid-'cpp Msrobrino King- was m front of Vtlox. Verox (the two l»tt-named being full I'rotherß) coming iast. W-th one laD to travel Vclox was in rhargo of affdir3, but Verox gradually dj-°w ud to him. end a jplendid race t^w Verox win by a head. V^rox bad started >r> the previous race, m which l.c had to give Rexie 17 a ?c. and a? Rexie won in Smin lls€c he had no liope of defeating the Danpclin horve. AnotlieT touthern reprraentative in Young Burlington waa successful in the Teieg:,iph Handicap, The Heir, who travelled nt srpa. l sp»ed over t 1 *" first part of the journey, bping unable to citch him. Sir Hecfor p-ot so far away iiom his onnonents in tiie Speedwell Hsndican at th* half distance as to HDUarently have the race at his niercv . but he tired badly. ; and Frederick easi'y overhauled and dcieatc-d , him by eight lengths. TK.2 weather on Fntlnv. tbe concluding day of the meeting, was glorious, and ns a consequence there was ft large attcnt'.aace of the 1 uhlic. The rour«e waa m good order, and v. feat'T-a of the racinxr was thn c Ice ness of the finishes. His Eieol'eucy the Co; em or aj-'d e mle ai rived shorUv before the big race, in t'me to wit'icF 51 o;'<» of tl;<» finest stnifrs»!es for "upremacy ever »<»pn on the course. Speculation wan veiv brmk, the- Hum of £'7.186 beint,' put Clirough the totahsntc-, ps coinjiarad witli X 743S fo. the corre = nonl.i'£r day of last year. Th«» tot^l iii"e3tm«3t^ for the meeting amounted to .£18,601. as aj'^in^t £20,519 last year. Racing commeaoed with the Innovation Handicap, nhich fell to Royal Money, Vida | n»id Xcllie D. running into the r^'i^c'i"'© | ulaces. An eaay victory was secured by Young Befdou in the Ladies' Brace l ot, ,iO\ds seoaraitng nini and the second horse. Foxhall. the lutter being well ahead of the third hor«e. Little •Tim A'i exritinz stniscle eventua : -cd jn the ProgrpsKivp HandicaD, Nil Desnerandum lieatiii<; V,"i!d Rose by a head. Velox finishing a poor tinrd. Interesting as th_s race wa3. it was rot 3 circumstance t-o tliat witnessed in the New Zealand Handicap. With one lan traversed, The Needle had drawn clear of All Day, who was closely followed by Albert and Boldrewood. Shortly afterwards Ihe Heir tan

into third place. Bibbonwccd wag well away from What and at tie half-distance he -was within six lengths of Monte Carlo. With one lap to cover The Heir ttz» ahead of The Keedle, while Boldrewcod wts followed closely by Monte Carlo. In the back stretch the two latter drew on The Heir, and a ytao.t j^rufg^e to the post saw Boldrewood just get up and win by half a head from The Heir, -with Monte Carlo a neck avray third. Then came Kibbojiwood four lengths back, followed by What and 1 The N-eedle. The close and exciting finishes previously seen caused quite a flutter of expectancy, and when the three leaders cams down the straight almost locked together, the excitement ran high, and culminated in a hearty cheer as they flashed underneath ihe hue w ' j scarcely heada between them. Thi3 is the kind of race people want to see, and so long as they can watch such contests on ;i irotmg tr.-ck its prosperity is assured. Michael Malone comfortably got home in front of Cling in the Sydenhain. Handicap, another southern horse in Pl*n filling third place. Fleetwood did not experience much trouble in giving his antagonists in the Intermediate Handicap a decisive beating, Wild Rose and Black Child trotting into second and third places. General Lincoln defeated Young Burlington in the Swift Handicap, St. Simon third. The colt covered the miLe in 2mia 24 2-ssec, so that it will be seen that Ribbonwood, frotu scrat-b or. in fact, anything in the race, bad :ituo diHt.ca of defeating him. As if fo put the- finishing touch on a aeries of great races, Honest Jack and Lady K^tforA could not be separated by the nidge in. the Final Handicap, and it was but -fitting that such a fine finish ahonld bring a .successful meeting to a close. Ml H. Brinkman, the h&ndicapper, as a whol*. ha* never given us better work, and he was heartily congratulated. Mr H. Reyookis's starting clock was used all through the meeting, aiui gave every satisfaction