CANTERBURY DOINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 47

CANTERBURY DOINGS

By Feitz.

Though the wind blew somewhat coldly on ! Saturday no rain fell, and a goodly number of visitors attended to witness the racing | at the meeting of the Christchurch. Racing ' Club, which took place at Plunxpton. Many of ths contest? formed exciting races, and, as showing that backers were Jiot so successful in making their selection, it may be mentioned that only one favourite won duriDg the afternoon. Speculation, too, was better by nearly £200 than that noticeable last year, a change which will be much appreciated by the club. The course was in excellent order, and it is almost needless to add that the various officials performed their respective duties satisfactorily. Bombardo, who has hidden his light for some time, gave his owner a long-delayed win in the opening event, the High-weight Handicap, and won somewhat easily from tho outsider Khaki, Natalie running third. Clanburn, First Shot, and Firebrand were the other starters, but neither of ihem was prominent. Mr C. G. Dalgety, one of the most unlucky owners that ever purchased or ran a horse, managed to secure a win by the aid of Stepdancer (MenschikofPs full sister), in the Maiden Plsta, for which she was sent out favourite in a field of five. The filly won comfortably ; Dirk, who was in front until reaching the distance, in second place, and Merrymaker third. "Ivelburn, in view of his recent successes, was, despite his heavy burden of 5).3, sent out a decided first selection, for tho Christchurch Autumn Handicap; in fact, of the £456 invested in the totalisator on the six starters, £245 appeared above his name. The son of Hotchkiss, hov.xvrr, r.ftcr going xbout half the disancc, found the pace too solid, and never subsequrntiy flatterr-A the hopes of his supporters. fcccret Society showed the way \mtil half a milu from home, where Zealous and Antirror.c were in close attendance, Stepdanccr ' running in the rear. Antigcr.c gave wny to ' Clanbum gallomng round the top turn, and Zealous entered the straight ahead of Secret Society. Tbo daughter of Nelson, without the slightest trouble, secured the race by four lengths, Ciariburn defeating Secret Society by a .similar distance for second place. Rushliglit, after winning the Riccarfcon Handicap Trot, was protested against, on the ground that ho had left the mark before his time, but the objection was not sustained. Proud Child and E^flock finished in the order named behind the winner; Wildflowei, the favourite, coming next. A pretty race eventuated in the Flying Handicap. Ayrda-le jumped away smartly, but several of his antagonists had picked him Tip before ho had gone three furlongs, L?dy Brandt beinj; most prominent. The latter Taced along in front, and showed Hip way into the straight, where Ordnance, Gladisia, and Goldenmcro were lying in good positions. A capital struggle botween Lady Brandt and Ordnance saw the latter triumphant, and she ran home a winner by a bare length, Goldenmcre just defeating Lady Brandt for second place. Chain GuaTd, after winning the Selling Race by a narrow margin from Crusader, was bought in at £18. Cora. Linn, who was made a warm favourite for the Welter Handicap, just failed to hold Lady Brandt, the latter winning by a , bare half-length, her supporters receiving the fine dividend of £10 18s. Proud Child brought the racing to a closi by vj'iiurj; iko SpreycVm Trot somewhat easily from Robert Emmet, 1 Reality finishing foxirth. Advance was safely shipped to "Wellington mi Tuesday lust. With care the horse should be able io walk decently in n short time. Joubsrt, the trotter, owned by Mr R. D. Petrie, is dead. The monthly meeting of the Canteirbury Jockey Club was held on Tuesday. A trainer's license wsf gTantcd to L. D. King. The report cf the Jiulicia.l Committee in the Hydrant case did not endorse the disqualification of J. Sowman, the owner, but endorsed that of I. James, tiie trainer, H. Pickering, the rider, and th<> horse Hydrant. The report was adopted. The disqualification of certain competitors at the Springston sports meeting was removed, at the request of thp club. The disqualification of J. Clo3e and the horse Kulnina, by the Kaikoura Hack Racing Club, was endorsed. An appeal by E. Curdy against a decision of the Chertsey Sports Club was referred to the Judicial Comrnitiee to report on. Transfers were granted from C. Ma.eh.ell to J. Tristram, of eh f by Scaton Delaval—Brapela, and from T. Shannon to J. Collett, of b c Roseal. Leave was granted to Mr T. Morrin to amend errors in the statement of the breeding of several of his entries for the Challenge Stakes. Notice cf motion was {riven to have flags placed on the wings of hurdles in hurdle races, any horses jumping inside tho flags to bs considered to have completed the course. The monthly aeeting of the Nov.' Zealand Trotting Association was held <;n Wednesday ; present — Messrs P. S.-;!ig (president), D. M'Lean, G. King, W. G. Garrard, E. Clarkson, A. L. Myers, and the Hon. H. Gouriey.

] Apologies were Teeeived for the absence of ; Messrs G. S. Howell and C. E. Calcutt. A j letter was read from the Colonial Secretary enI closing an application from the Wairau Trotj ting Club asking for a. totalisator permit renI dered vacant by the alleged default of the Wellington Trotting Club to pay its stakes. A telegram from the Wellington Club stated that financial arrangements would be made in a day or two, and that it was intended to hold the autumn meeting It was decided to telegraph to the Wellington Trotting Club for an immediate explanation of the position, a reply to the Colonial Secretary to be postponed till the receipt of information from the Wellington Trotting Club. A letter was read from the Luznsden Hack Race Club regarding the horse Ringer. He had been borrowed from the owner and entered for a meeting under the name of Micky, and later on, when the owner won a race with him under his proper name, he was disqualified by the Lumsden Club. It waa decided to make further inquiry into the case. The secretary of the Hokitika Trotting Club wrote stating that in the District Handicap Muriel galloped three times. She won the race, but the stewards thought the galloping was material and intentional, and disqualified Muriel and her rider for 12 months. A letter was read from G. Lawson, the owner, stating that- the galloping was not intentional, and asking tho association for the removal of the disqualification. He also mentioned that several of the other competitors were not qualified to start, owing to tho horses not being registered and the riders and trainers not licensed. It was decided to endorse the disqualification. With regard to the question of unregistered horses and unlicensed ricoars it was decided to csk the club for seme information. Tho secretary of the Hokitika Trotting Club wrote ata-ting that in one of ths raoes at its meeting Charlie finished first and Buller second. The owner of J3uller protested that Charlie's owner had not a trainer's license. The letter pointed out that only two of the horso3 were train-ed, the others being owned by farmers. The club wished to know if it was necessary for an owuer to have .a license to train his own horse. It was decided to reply that a trainer's license was necessary. The secretary of the Hokitika Trotting Club wrote sta,ting that in the Autumn Handicap at the club's meeting tke hoTse Dooley galloped during the greater part of the race. The rider was told to stop his horse, but he continued in the race, and interfered with Linda. Eooley finished first, but the stewards disqualified the rider, Robert White, for five years, and tha owner, M. Nolan, and die horse Dooley for one year. Further correspondence on the same subject was also read. Oa behalf of the rider it was stated th*t the reins had broken during the race, the horse thus getting out of control. It was dacid-ed that the correspondence should be sent back to the club for perusal. The secretary of the Hokitika Trotting Club wrote stating that in the Pony Flat Race, F. Fane, the rider of Molly, waa found guilty of foul riding and deliberately jostling Starlight, and the stewards disqualified Fane and the horse for life. Cou'siderctrion was held over till next meeting. The secretary of the Greyuiouth Trotting Club wrote stating that in the Ladies' Bracelet, Alberta-, ridden by G. B. Murfitt, galloped past -the post. Alberta was disqualified for the race, and the owner wa3 fined £5. The action of the stewards was endorsed. Correspondence was read from the secretary of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club with Tegard to the disqualifica.tion of D. J. Price and the mare Felony for six months. A long letter waa also read horn D. J. Price, reviewing the decision of the stewards, and asking if he might be permitted to appeal on a question of interpretation of the law. The action of the stewards was endorsed. It was resolved that the association views with displeasure the way in which the case had been put before it. It was also resolved that the stewards should ba asked whether they have taken steps to verify the statement mad* by Dr Thacker during the hearing of the case against Price, tha-t the supposed owner of Felony had been Laying against the horse for the race. Correspondence was Tead with regard to the disqualification of H. T. Smith by the Rangitata Sports Club. It was decided to refer the matter back to the club for further information, Smith having informed tho association that ho had rot been given a chance of defending himseli. A number of trainers' and riders' licenses were issued and -three programmes were passed. The meeting then adjourned till Wednesday at half-past The Ashburton Trotting Clnb experienced beautiful weather on Thursday last, nnd there was a capita! attendance to witness the racing. The totaiisator investments showed a pleasing increase on the amount handled on the corresponding day last year. Several close finishes were witnessed, and, taken nil round, a good afternoon's racing was enjoyed. The meeting opened auspiciously, Experiment only defeating Ciss by a bare half-length in the Maiden Handicap, with Bertie C. a ball third Had Ciss wor she would have returned her supporters a dividend of over £10. The race for ihe Tinwald Handicap was somewhat spoilt owing to several horses breaking, and Cccoanut was thus enablod to win by abcut half a dozen lengths from. Ben Hur, Edward R. coming next. Elflock should have won the Lsighmor Handicap, as he was alongside the favourite Velvet half a. mile from home, but he broke twice (on«- right on the post), and then only suffered 'defeat by a bead. Bertie C. he Its command for two-thirds of the District Handicap journey, but here she was collared by Dora, -who went on and won with the greatest ease, Doppleganger in third place, j Dora (penalised 15eec) was sent out again for , the following ra.ee— the Ladies' Bracelet— but this time she could not overhaul Diploma, who was in charge tho whole way, and won as she liked. The Ashburton Handicap proved a ' good thing for Frantic, who, at the end of four ; furlongs, took command, and was n^ver subsequently threatened. Edward R. was second, and Experiment third. The Fairfield Handicap was a gift to Princess Royal, none of her opponents being able to get near her. and she wan by over 100 yards. Elflock defeated Velvet by a neck for second place. The penalised Cocoanut secured her second victory by appropriating the Da&h Handicap, winning by between three and four lengths from Ivywood, who appeared to have the race at her mercy at the half distance. Ben Hur was third. D. J. Price, the owner of Ribbonwcod, has had several enlarged photographs prepared of .' the horse, and intends sending them to Ameri- ; can sporting papers, in order that they may be reproduced in that country. The horse's performances accompany the photographs, and it is probaole that an offer /or him may be re- • ceived from America. In the meantime, the j dispute regarding the sale of the horse has yet to be settled. The Canterbury Jockey Club has advised the Akaroa County Racing Club that the investments in the totalisator in the Maider: 1 * k ?, | run on March 10, at that club's annual meet- | ing, should be disposed of as follows:— Money invested on Nikola, the winner, who was dis- ; qualified, to be returned, the remaind-er to be paid to investors on Whakaraupo, who ran second. The judge did not place a third horse. Glancing at the handicaps issued for events to be decided at the Ashburton County Racing Club's meeting on the 14th (first day), I incline to the prospects of the undermentioned horses : —County Hack Race, Nutcracker and Helios; Grove Farm Handicap, Cora Dinn and

Secret Society; Ashburton Handicap, LacTji] Lillian, Zealou3, and Tesra-pin; Fairfield Highweight Handicap, General Symons, Clanburn, and Noil Gwynn ; Melrose Galloway Handii cap, Rangitikei and Lucretia.