SOUTH CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 57

SOUTH CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

AUTUMN MEETING. The attendance, a.t the Souih CanterI>UTy Jockey Okib's autumn meeting c:mld not l>e described as . overwhe.lm'ing, and it is somewhat strange that the southern fixture does not prove mor< attractive. A few years ago tkis was one of the most popular of the Canterbury gatherings, and many a horse has foreshadowed Itt the prettily-situated Washdyke course a successful turf career at more pretentious gatherings. As a matter of fact, sportsmen Deoame accustomed to watc^ the doings of Canterbury country meetings, such as Timaru, Geraldine, and ASitourton. and thereby secure a. future* guide. During the past few years, towever, we have become accustomed to sparsely-attended meetings at each of the places named, and it is not. easy to solve the reason why the interest las partia-lly ceased. The ■whole of Bouth. Canterbury has never been more prosperous than it is to-day, and Timaru at the moment is unquestionably progressing. The town itself has apparently stood etill for years, but novr, owing, no doubt, greaiQy to the increased harbour facilities, it is going ahead, and with its magnificent back country there is no reason why it should not continue to do so. The population is increasing, but, rightly or •wrongly, this increase has not brought a corresponding display of interest in racing. '£h.e absence of first-class competing horses may have something to do with the attendances, as, whilst the purely gambling element is almost indifferent as to ijhe quality of the horses engaged, or whether champions or donkeys are running, there are hundreds willing to travel long distances to ■watch a great struggle between racing giants •who will not go one yard to see a dozen •weedy hacks galloping four to six furlongs Xiocal owners are scarce, and it is probabls safe to assert that in the whole of Soutl Canterbury there is not one first-class animaJ iv training, and few of them could be classed in the second division There is> therefore, no healthy local rivalry, which is "to be deplored, as wherever enthusiastic owners are to be found there is sure to be good sport. The majority of the horses seem out at the Washdyke in open events were •trained many mOes away from the scene, with the result that eveiy stake attaching thereto goes out of the district. Even in the hack laces local owners were unsuccessful, and they always will be until they breed or purchase something better worth leeding and training. It costs no more to feed a good one, and the first cost is frequently infinitesimal as compared with the continual expense attached to the keeping of a weed. Nothing arouses so much enthusiasm as the success of a locally-owned ana trained horse in an important race, anu such a victory gives a fillip to a meeting which can never De secured ty the success of a horse trained at one of the centres of racing. It is to be hoped that in the near future we shall have the pleasure of seeing a local sportsman leading in the winner of a valuable stake. But if we cannot get first-clst&s Borses to compete at such a. meeting as that held at Couth Canterbury last week, visitors have -a right to anticipate that the management of an old-established club should at least be up-to-date, but the writer cannot congratulate the officials on the manner in which the meeting was conducted. I have no desire to analytically criticise those who were in charge of affairs, ' as the majority of the gentlemen selected to carry out the work kave few opportunities, and probably less desire, of educating themselves in racing matters. So long as the racing goes on smoothly and there are no "beastly complaints or protests" the ordinary steward, oftentimes selected because he holds a good social nosition in the community, is perfectly satisfied. He languidly watches the racing, or thinks he does, thoroughly enjoys his luncheon, and goes home comfortably deluded that he has done something, and performed his duties remarkably well. Some of the stewards of the South Canterbury Jockey Club are old, tried men, but they cannot watch everything, aaid I venture to assert that the majority of the officials could not accurately describe a race, anii when they are called to adjudicate upon a case they are hopelessly at sea^ More than one of the races •was run without a single steward being visible. and aft^r one race -was ftnislied and +X© ncrses had returned to the paddock, not one official was present to give permission to the lads to dismount. The totalisator arrangements on the opening day were anything but satisfactory. I understand that Mr Roberts proposed to use a new machine, but its belated arrival forced him to make use of another, •which registered somewhat remarkable figures in connection with the Cup race. When the Tace started 34 tickets were shown to have fceen taken out on the winner, Tirole. Shortly afterwards this reached 110, and subsequently 143. Naturally, there was some indignant fowling, but the feeling exhibited calmed down -when the correct dividend was paid, «nd after the machine had been patched up it worked better, but the public frequently lad to wait a long time to ascertain what

somt of the dividends were. Much of the success of a meeting depends upon its general management, and I would earnestly urge upon the S.C.J.C. the absolute necessity that exists for reorganisation. Invidious distinctions are umieceg-ary, and I feel sure that Ihs members will exert themselves to please their patrons rather than gi"e them another chance to adversely criticise. I have never attended a meeting where the services of an experienced stipendiary stewnid irere so urgently neecl-oJI, iui& I si.nc<©r©ly trust that one will shortly be appointee! by all tho clubs. Such a, man would relieve the stewards of what is sometimes regarded as an unpleasant duty, and leave them almost free to attemd to the details of a meeting. Where stewards only see one or two meetings a year as stewards, they cannot fairly be expected -to take such a deep and close interest as a stipendiary steward would, and, moreover, they obviously do not possess the requisite knowledge either of racing or racing laws. Such an official would, of course, also act as advisory steward, and I have no doubt that many of the South Canterbury stewards would have been glad to have received the advice of such a man. I have so frequently enlarged upon this theme that it is unnecessary to go further into the subject just " now. The weather on both days of the meeting \»as all that could be desired. The course, though hard, was in fair order, and though I heard complaints regarding the starting, they were scarcely justified, and it is a. pity that all the officials did not work as well, as the starter. A clouble-event machine was available on each day, but why twe minor events should have bee-ii selected on both day is inexplicable. On the firs 1 !, day the Stewards and Waitaki District Handicaps were the two races chosen, ,' and on the second the President's and Rangitata Handicaps formed the pair. The lucky investors on the opening day received £25 14s each when Speculate and Huskburn .»on their respective races, arid the success of Saranges and Grand March on Thursday meant a dividend of £19 Us to nine ticket-holders. On Wednesday the sum of £2250 was put through the machine, as against £2198 for the corresponding day last year, and on the second day the amount handled amounted to £2181 10s, a total of £1711, as compared to £5285 last autumn. Unfortunately the stewards considered it necessary to call upon J. M - Combe for an explanation of his riding of Manjass on the first day, and also to consider a couple of objections. They accepted M'Combe's statement, and took no action in the mati-er. This was a peculiarly run race. Manjess. on tho rails, entered the straight well in advance of First Shot, whilst Speculate, who had fci ought up the rear the whole way, was some distance behind the pair. Running up the straight First Shot overhauled Manjess, and, just when First Shot appeared to be winning, Speculate made a rush up, and got home ; Manjess third. I was closely watching the race ,and would offer the opinion that although Manjess appeared to be running too close to the jrails, M'Combe did not appear to make tlie most of Ms mount -when collared, ty First Shot. After MuskbuTn had won the WaitaTri District Handicap, a belated objection was lodged against his owner receiving the stakes on the ground that the horse had been trained by an unlicensed person. Tjbe horse had been trained by his owner (Mr W. Her-■v-ey), but had arrived at Timaru in charge of someone else, and it was heJd that since his Arrival there he had not been lawfully trained. The matter was held over until Thursday, when the stewards decided tha+ the horse was properly trained by his owner. At the conclusion of the Hack Race, Mr F. Busah, the owner of the -winner, Good Light, and her rider (H. Donovan) were called before the stewards to explain the running of the filly as compared with her form on, the first day. At the same time E. Griff en the hairier of the second horse (Blue Storking), lotged a protest agains-t the winner on the ground of inconsistency, which was accepted, and the inquiry was held on that basis. A lengthy sitting ended in Ihe stewards exonerating Mr Busoh from all blame, and disqualified H. Donovan for six months, and took the stake from the winner. An appea] was at once entered in each ace, whilst the totalisator money was paid out on Blue Stocking and MyrtleHery, these horses having finished second and rSlrd respectively. Owing to the appeals being Icdged, I am, of course, prevented from commenting upon the matter, but in c^-ler to place the position fairly before my readers I might explain that Good Light, started in the Hack Race on the first day, the 10 starters each carrying S.O. This race was won by Ettarec, with Tsitsihar second and Myrtlebery tbird, and Grosvenor in fourth place. On the second day Good Light was raised to 8.13, Myrtlebery to 8.6, whilst GTosvenor was allotted 7.7. Good Light won easily from Blue Stocking (who was not in the race on the first day), whilst Mvrtlebery was again third. When the decision was made known Donovan was at the pest on Saranges, but was recalled, thus losing a winning mount. Saranges opened the meeting br easily defeating her four opponents in the Rosswill Handicap; Grand March finishing six lengths behind her and 10 in advance of G-ew Gaw. Of the six starters for the Timaiu. Cup, Calibre was sent out favourite. He looked well, as filso. did Convoy, hut few anticipated that this horse, with 9.13 on his back, would be able to hold his more lightly-weighted opponents, liroll, Royal Crown, and Do la Rey also looked in nice condition, but Secret Society is susceptible to improvement. When the flag was lowered Tirole was at once taken to the front, and, with three furlongs traversed, he wr.s striding along at a strong pace in advance of Royal Crown and Secret Society, Convoy in the rear. Half a mile from home Ros-al Crown was beaten, and, with Calibre and Conv?y improving their positions, Tiroll had this pair as his nearest attendants when beads were turned for home. Calibre and Convoy both challenged Tiroll, and tha two 3an almost together for a short distance, but Tiroll «ame again, and finished three-parts of a. length m 'front of Calibre, whilst Convoy was a length behind the second horse, and De la Rey fourth. The well-bred Ettaree (Sir Lancelot — Sabra) quite overshadowed her antagonists in the Hack Race, the two-year-old Tsitsihar filling second, and Myrtlebery third position. The j winner is a. three-year-old, somewhat plain, but able to gallop Speculate tailed off from the j start of the Stewards' Welter Handicap but after First Shot had caught the favourite (Mangess) iv the straight he came with a fast run, a,nd' annexed the race by three-parts of a length from First Shot. Veda won the Washdyke Trot comfortably from a big field ; Hard Cash and Gpihi rilling the lespective places. Muskburn accounted for rhe Waitaki District Handicap after a capital race, in which Carlo and Don Bell were most prominent. Sandy and Jolly Roger were running almost together for three furlongs in the Flying Handicap, the former retiring just after entering the straight, where the southern Aai» Koputai and Gypsobel became i/rom merit Koputai easih' held the opposition in the run home, and won comfortably by a length and a-ha.lf from Jolly Roger, who was only a neck m front oi G vj>sobelT

I Ettnree was scut out favourite for the opening event on the second day — the Temuka Handicdp, — but when 1 mining 111 the !cpd. just in f'.ont oi B ; iie Storking, it was seen that she fe'tered, and that her rider v. as e^deavotuiug; to pill her up, ard when plic ictiuned to the paddock it was found that she bad broken pj blood vessel ir her head. Gcw Caw had no tiouble in passing "Blue Stocking, and the if.llr.cv won easily by 10 lengths. A great finish wa= witnessed in thp Autumn Handicar> between Tirole antl Koputai. Maujess took 1 charge of affairs at the end of the fir^t furlong, and held command until 'he straight was reached, -where he gav^ way 1o lvoputai and Tirole, and the last-named pair lan locked together right up to the post, Koputai winning by a, short head, with De la Rev, v.ho began slowlj' and finish&rf f»st, in third place. Good fight never gave her antagonists a chance m the Hack Handicap, winning with ridiculous ease from Blue Stocking, but was subs-e-queutlj disqualified on the ground of inconsistent 1 tinning, as previoush- mentioned. Royal Crown failed to overhaul Saranges in the iuu home for the President s Welter Handicap Stake, a length separating + he pair . First Shot in third place. The Seudown Tiot was unexpectedly taken by Bradlaugh from the 2sdc mark; Booby, who trotted unsteadily, just defeating Darkwocd for second place. Gland March carried too many guns for the other six starters in the Rangetata Handicap, Don Bel l ancl Muskbiiru running aocond and third respectively, and the meeting was brought to a conclusion by Sandy leading all the way ir tho Farewell Handicap, and defeating the favourite Beau Peaton by a length and a-half . Pensive a poor third.