CANTERBURY DOINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 51

CANTERBURY DOINGS

Bt Fmtz.

I liad a look at the twin fcals by Lochiel last week. One was so small at birth that its hoofs were easily put into an. eggcup, and was so weak that it could scarcely stand. Care, however, gradually had its effect, and it is now a compact, handsome youngster, and is growing very fast. Its companion is a well-grown foal, and if appearances are not deceptive, it should, develop into a nice horse. I have several times commented upon the successful operation performed -upon Mr H. A. Knight's mare CJytie- by the well-lmown veterinary surgeon Mr Charlton. It will be remembered tnat this gentleman inserted a silver tube in the throat of the daughter of Fhaethon and .Neroli, and when the mare came out* to race in the Windsor Handicap at the Christchurch Racing Club's meeting on Saturday a large number of visitors displayed great interest in her, especially m ny specting the tube. Mr Knignt had espressedhimself B3 particularly pleased with the mare's work on the track since the operation was performed, and though she had only been in training less than eight weeks, he was hopeful that , she would iuii a. fair race. And so she did. Always holding a fair position, she finished gamely and well, and, catching Lady Lillian on the po3t, the judge was unable to separate the pair. I had a good look at the more when she pulled up, and, like her owner and Mr Oharrton, I was pleased to see how successful and helpful the operation had been. Previously Clytie would have been done with a long way from home, and that there had been | no loitering on the journey is shown, by the ! fact that the mile was covered in lmin 42sec. So little was thought of -Clytie's prospects that I her nine supporters received a dividend of over £17 in a dead heat. The efficacy of the treatj meat waa bo apparent that several owners who i possesses musical horses approached Mr Charlton with the object of getting tieir horses operated upon, iiicre are many animals who might have won races with the tube, notably Formosan and Diplomat, both of whom were very fast but bad winded. Fourteen horses remain in the Ashburton County Stakes, after the first forfeit has been declared. Sir Geoige Clifford has retained the engagements of three, the only other owners who are represented by more than one being Messrs Lewis and Thomas. Rangefinder, Wimbledon, and Bulrush appear to possess winning prospects in the Cheviot Cup, but the trio, like the remainder of the horses engaged, are trained privately, consequently it is impossible to obtain any reliable information about them. The same trio appear to be well treated in the M'Kenzie Stakes, whilst Lepanto, Rangefinder, and Kulnina may between them account for the Ladies' Bracelet. Mr F. H. Pyna was billed as judge to act at the Christchurch Racing Club's meeting on Saturday, but the bos was filled by Mr Evans. There was a fair attendance to witness the racing at the Christchurch Racing Club's meeting, which opened on Saturday. The weather was fino and the racing interesting, but the speculation, considering the number present, was anything but brisk, only £1750 being put through the machines as against £2364 for the corresponding day last year. Only three youngsters went out to contest the opening race — the Nursery Handicap— the Seaton Delaval filly Leonore being made favourite in a restricted betting race. The- Mohican, a shapely son of the Maxim horse Mauser, cut out the going at a strong pace, and entered the straight well in front of his opponents. Half way up the running, however, Leonore made her effort, and gradually overhauling the colt lasted long enough to win by a bare half length. This was the first victory registered by Leonore. Ceri3e aoid Blue, Firebrand, and Nell Gwynne were withdrawn from the Maiden Plate, for which the coupled pair, Helios (Phaeton — Polly) and Punamu, were most fancied. The latter got away slowly, and was nevei dangerous, but Helios was amongst the leaders until reaching the turn into the straight, where he retired, Natalie, Romany Queen, and Lolah holding good positions. The last-named raced to the front, and just when it seemed that the daughter of Musketry and Dudu would run home alone, she was challenged by Merrymaker; but the latter could not quite get up, and suffered defeat by a head, with Flint, who ran past several beaten horses in the straight, in third place. Romany Queen failed to see the journey out, and is apparently not quite so good as many thought. Lady Lilian, who was looking very well, was strongly supported to win the Windsor Handicap, the outsider of the party being Clytie, who has not been seen out for some time. When a quarter of a mile had been covered Whirlwind was showing the way to Dundas, the latter being followed by Clytie and Lady Lillian, Terrapin bringing up the rear. At the half-distance Lady Lillian moved up tc the leaders, and before turning for the straight she was in charge. Racing down the straight Dundas momentarily looked dangrrous, but Clytie disposed of him and | went in pursuit of Lady Lillian, wt appeared to be winning as she liked. A fine race to the chair ended in the judge declaring that the pair had finished together, a decision obviously open to doubt. Before the official hoisted his numbers I had noted in my book a long neck in favour of Lady Lillian, an opinion shared by those in a position to offer one. However, I might have been mistal^n. Clytie ■was the least backed of the seven starters, and paid her backers a dividend of £17 14s. Dundas was only half a length away in third position. Cashier, who pulled up very tired, managed to keep going long enough to win from the outsider Comrade. Young Kentucky trotted very well in bits, but went up repeatedly. Clandeboye walked over for the Selling Race, and

ness of eliminating event 3of this character I from future programmes. A fine fieldi of 13 went out for the Fiying Handicap, Secret Society securing most support. The favourite was first away, and led for half the distance. Approaching the straight, half a dozen i looked dangerous, but when well in the straight j Nance O'Neil came away, and easily holding her position, won fairly comfortably from Cyclas Parva, who passed Secret Society in the straight. King Stork, who was fourth, got away badly, or he might have troubled the winner. Verice trotted to the head of affairs in the Avon Trot before half the distance had been covered, and, remaining in that position to the finish, won easily from Rushlight, who defeatea Onward for second place by a dozen lengths. The racing was brought to a conclusion by Puawai winning- the High-weight Hack Handicap by three lengths from Long Tom (who had a 71b allowance), who was a length iv advance of Bombardo. December 20. Though the Christchurch Racing Club's meeting on Tuesday clashed with many other Anniversary Day gatherings, the executive had theplcasure of bringing its summer meeting to a successful conclusion in the presence of ogoodly crowd. The various events provided in- I t-eresting contests, some of the finishes !>eing close and exciting. The totahsator receipts I amounted to 53161, the total for the two days I being £ 4911_an increase of £1126 10s as com- ' pared with the meeting last year. The Lord ' Rosslyn — Lady Gertrude cot Roscominon, earned, his first winning bracket in. the Hopeful Handicap, which constituted the opening event. Leonore, -who had won a similar race on the previous Saturday, wa3 sent out favourite; but the latter suffered defeat by a neck, the .only other starter, The Mohican, finishing two lengths away. A capital field went out -to ■ contest the Midland Weltei Handicap, and a pretty race eventuated. Covenant Maid and Good Spec cut out the running to the half distance, the remainder of the field being well up. Racing for the straight, Puawai went up to the leaders, and Covenant Maid retiring, allowed Lady Dundas to secure third place. She overhauled Good Spec, but could not hold Puawai, who got home by a length. The Ladies' Bracelet Trot Handicap was won easily by Beautiful Bells by six lengths, Molly Reilly and Roulette respectively occupying the remainder of tne positions. Only four hoises started for the Anniversary Handicap, Dundas being greatly fancied, Clytie showed the way to Dundas ior a course of furlongs, but from this point to the straight entrance they were together. The former wa« beaten a quarter of a mile from home, and Calibre, making » nice run, secured leading place, Terrapin also ranging alongside Dundas. Calibre easily held his opponents, however, and ran home an e-asy winner by two lengths, a similar distance dividing second and third horse,". Clytie, it was thought, would not find a mile and a-quarter too far, but she dropped out of the race very suddenly, and it is thought that is is possible the strong breeze blowing down the straight choked the tube in her throat. This may be so, and no one here ■ has apparently had sufficient experience to give a decided opinion upon the subject. After Gunrcs' had beaten Gim in the Disposal Handicap, he was sold to Mr Ashworfch for £12. Despite the steadier of 9.13, Lady Lillian comfortably defeated a big field in the Electric Handicap, the little mare finishing a couple of lengths in front of Cyclas Parva, Lady Brandt running third. Beautiful B«ll3 had not much difficulty in silencing the oppositior in the Islington Trot, that disappointing mare Al F. securing second and Collector third position. Teii-apin accounted for the Farewell Handicap, winning by a couple «#*lengths from Whirlwind, who defeated Ayrdale by three lengths. The last-named jppears to have gone right off. s The Colonial .Secretary has advised the chairman of the New Zealand Trotting Conference that he will issue licenses to use the totalosator in accordance with the recommendations of the conference. The following horses may run prominently at the annual meeting of the Cheviot Racing Club: — Maiden Plate, Achrsy; Cheviot Cup, Rangefinder; M'Kenzie Stakes, Rnngefinder and Wimbledon ; Ladies' Bracelet, Kulnina and Lepantc.