CANTERBURY DOINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 51

CANTERBURY DOINGS

By Fsrrz.

I hear that the Canterbury Jockey Club proposes to investigate -the running of a certain horse at one of our local gatherings. I trust that once the metropolitan authority commences its work it will probe the matter to the bottom.

Local sports paid more than ordinary attention to the recent North Otago meeting, but few succeeded in increasing their banking account.

By the way, visitors to the Oamaru fixture tell me that some of the running was -^cry peculiar, and one keen sportsman says thaft whilst he has every respect for the authorities, it is absolutely necessary to appoint stipendiary stewards. It is remarkable how tenaciously the majority of officials stick to the existing system. In Mr H. Goodman Mr Buckley, of Oamaru, has secured a competent and painstaking trainer, and many of his old friends have expressed their pleasure at the appointment. I extend my congratulations to both owner and trainer.

The success of Enchanter at the Plumpton. Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday meant k heavy burdening by several bookmakers. JE hear that- a number of telegrams were receive^ with investments on this horse, and as the 1 son of Rothschild paid £5 Bs, it will readily, be understood that a large sum changed hands. Fifteen horses started, and, strange to say,, the .majority of the onlookers were under the impression that the winner was Calais, not Enchanter.

At a meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club, held on Tuesday, it was resolved to endorse the disqualification of Manjess imposed by the Christcharch Racrnff Club ; also that of J. Delaney, imposed by* the Westland Racing Club. The appeals t)f F. Nelligan, owner of De la Bey, and P. Carruthers against the decision of -the Ashburton County Racing Club, were postponed for con-side-ration to May 30. The Metropolitan Committee decided to make inquiries into the lunning of Good Sight in the Hack Race at the ■Christc-hurch Racing Club's autumn meating.

Although the weather wa.s cold and raw an. the opening day of the Plumpton Park Trotting Ciub's autumn meeting, the attendance was fair, though speculation was not particularly brisk, the comparatively small sum of £3008 10s being passed through the machine: The sport was, a3 usual, very interesting. A. Pringle registered a very good performance, as he piloted no fewer than four of the eight winners during the afternoon. These were Lazy Jack (Hornby Handicap), Imperialism (first heat Champion Handicap), Austerlitz (Empire Handicap), and Victor Huon (Electric Handicap). Possum, who was sent out favou rite for the Trial Handicap, refused to settle down, a.nd Lotus, one of the outsiders of the field of nine, led -all the way, winning 'by eight lengths from Little Jinimy, Ciss si -poor third. Millicent, when trotting in a prominent position, was ordered off the track, she having started before her time. In the Ladies' Bracelet Colonial held temporary com' m and, but he gave way to Orlando and Elmwood, and this pair finished in the order named, with Voitta some 20 yards away in third place. Little Albert and Master Dudley. were prominent for half a mile in the Hornby Handicap, and at the end of a mile the latter was leading Lazy Jack and Soubrino. liazy Jack gradually overhauled the leader, and entered the straight in charge, and, holding his positon, won comfortably by 20 lengths, Royal Money just defeating Master Dudley for second place. Imperialism -was installed, favourite for the first heat of the Champion Harness Handicap, and the mare. ' 1';1 ' ; "•

•targe at once, never left the issue in doubt, ! and won, easing up by a [ength, Ben Hur, defeating Pygmalion by three lengths -ior second place. Fancy Girl, getting away smartly from the limit mark, had her opponents in trouble all the way in the Innovation Handicap, and won very easily by six lengths from Viotta, who in turn finished 50 yards in 'front of Lady Mab. Backers made no mistake ixi selecting Austerlitz to win the Empire Handicap. At the end of a mile Miss Vera Capel was leading Austerlitz, but the pace #old on the leader, and she gave way to the Jfavourite, who was never subsequently troubled, winning by 12 lengths from Bushghan, th© latter defeating the scratch horse westina by a length for second honours. Victor

Juon refused to settle down in the early rfag.es of the El«ctric Handicap, and My Misake, -who was about 12 lengths in front of Soubrino at the half distance, appeared to lave th© race at her mercy. Victor Huon, lowever, finished at a great pace, and won by .a couple of lengths, My Mistake securing position by a similar distance from •Veracity. A capital struggle was witnessed ■in the Dash Handicap, Amusement, General fLyons, and Wild Agnes racing almost in line Liintil well in the straight. Wild Agnes held j«. slight advantage when well in the running, jifcut General Lyons just got up and defeated sher-by half a length; Amusement four lengths behind the second horse.

•. The beautiful weather attracted a. much fiarger riumber of visitors to the convincing Wound pn Saturday, when the racing was [again first class, whilst the totalisator rejpeipts showed a distinct improvement as compared with the first day, th-e investments t*mounting to -£4006 10s. Betty was scarcely .extended in the Peninsula. Handicap, trotting '.eight away from her antagonists, and winning iiby fully 100 yards from Lenape Crown ; Child fa poor third- In the Ladies' Bracelet HanEnchanter almost immediately took ,'charge of affairs, and at the half-mile post field a strong lead from To-morrow and Woodpburn Chief. From this out Enchanter was jnever troubled, arid he picked up the stake Comfortably from Woodburn Chief; Straypird in third place. There were six starters lor the second heat of the Champiqn Handicap, all being fairly supported. Sir Hector {got to the end of the second furlong in th© lead, but shortly afterwards he was passed by filyrtle Dean, and then by Flora G. Th© latter failed to make much impression upon Myrtle Dean, who won by two lengths from. Flora G, after whom came Verax W length behind second horse. It was shown, jpowever, that the winner left her mark before ithe proper time, and she was disqualified, HFlora G, thus becoming th« stake-earner. [Black Prince quickly secured a strong lead ■from his opponents in the Lyttejton Handicap, [come of the latter — notably Victor Huon — Shaping badly. Black Prince, though tiring jßomewhat, over the. last part of the journey, jheld his own to the judge, and secured he Jverdict from the fast-finishing_ Victor Huon, ;with Bushman in third position. When a anile of the Plumpton Handicap had been

ttraversed, Blithechild was well clear of Verity land Austerlitz, but, covering the second lap, me 'gave way to Verity and Austerlitz, and the "Hatter, comfortably disposing of Verity, he ■vwon by six lengths, Verity fully 100 yards in ttTont of Blithechild. Lord Althorp, Viotta, Wnd Craigarnsky were almost together when - shal£ the distance of the Stewards' Handicap Siad been travelled, with Darwin and Master ([Dudley in a handy position. Lord Althorp Was first into the straight, and finally won by feiree lengths from Master Dudley, with Dar,jwin, close up, third. Federation was well out Ifrom Kiddy G. when half a mile of the Railjyray Handicap had been negotiated, the favou»it«j Two-up, declining to quickly settle down. Cocoanut passed Kiddy G. in the etraight, •but could not reach Federation, who won by Jthree lengths, with Two-up in the remainingposition. Valentia was strongly supported in *he Final Handicap, but though she trotted "" » capital race, she had to be content with Second place, '» neck behind Amusement. Had V»l«ritia kept steady throughout, she could Scarcely have lost. Wild Agnes finished four lengths in the rear of Valentia.