CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 71

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fritz. The wet spell did not last long, and we have reverted once more to the fine- weather to which, we have grown so a/scustomed of larte. The- tracks at Riccarton would be greatly benefited by some more moisture, though they are at present in fair order. The Akaroa County Racing Club's meeting was held on the Little River Racecourse last Tuesday. This is one of the moat popular country meetings in Canterbury, and, aa the weather wa» fine, there was a very large attendance. Viewed as & picnic, the gathering was tv thorough success, but from a racing point of view it w*s not an exciting function. Except in the Peninsula Cup, quality was sadly wanting in the fields, and the sport was only /moderate. There were four starters fox the Hurdle Handicap, but the field was further reduced at the first hurdle, where Narrangarie ran off into the tree 3. Crispinot made the running till the straight was reached, but when Casablanca moved up to him at the home turn, the race wa» very quickly over, Gaa&bi&nca winning easily by three lengths, with Makuri 50 yarde away. There were- eight starters for the Maiden Plate. At the end of half a mile Kelp was out in front, and he sailed in the easiest of winera from Seagirt and Illardo. Kelp is a five-year-aid gelding- by Cas-tashore — Purity, a mare that traces- back to Bribery. A good field of 11 horees lined up for the Peninsula Cup, many* owners being doubtless attracted 1 by the handsome cup, presented by Mr J. F. Buchanan. Amboise and Pretty Nell shot out at the start, and! carried on the running at a sound pace. At the end of half a- mile Amboise 1 drew out clear of Pretty Nell, others prominent at this stage beingTremulous ,/The Libyan, and Silent Member. At the entrance to the straight the field closed up, but Amboise only had to be shaken up to draw away «gain, and win easily by three lengths. An exerting finish for second place ended 1 in* Tremulous beating The Libyan by a. neotr. This ■was Amboise' s first win for aver a year. Lady Disdain and Pretty Nell both ran well for a. mile, but tie journey was rather far for them. Hilarity lost some groxrnd through running wide, going out of the straight, but finished close up. G-wendolina waß bumped soon after tins start, an<J interfered with Armamenlo, who nearly came down. The District Trot attracted 14 starters, and "Naughty Child scored very easily, after leading all the. way. Ngaire, Princess Rose, and Huonette followed the windier htane. Six lined* up for the: Hack Handicap, and Mythical, jumping off in front, remainecr* tlneie to tne finish, winning by a length from Portland, with Pretty Nell 10 lengths aw«y. Mythical had not much to spare in the run home. She steered a very erratic course in the straight, and narrowly escaped trouble for interfering with Portland. Tomtit, who started favourite, cut up very badly. There were 19 starters for the Open Trot, and the well-backed Repeater, ridden by A. Pringle. had a very easy win from. Romany Lad and Amazona. A field of seven lined up for the Hack Handicap, the two most fancied by backers being Tullia (sister to Gwendolina) and Shimmer (Stepniak—Gleam). Neither, however, ever looked dangerous, the race ending in an easy win for Cri&pinot, with Tomtit and' Fanny Free in the places. The days sport ended with the District Welter Handicap, for which the field numbered six. M*ry of Argyle was made a warm favourite, and at one time she looked like winning easily, as she had a commanding lead at the entrance to the Straight. She stopped very quickly, however, and Portland won comfortably from Kelp, who beat Mary of Argyle by a neck. The New Brighton Trotting Club brought off a very successful meeting on Thursday and Saturday. The weather was fine on both days, and the meeting was well attended. The flags at the course were all at halfmast, out of respect for the late president, Mr T. Marr, who died the previous week. Racing opened on Thursday with the Trial Handicap, for which a field of 16 started. Rotholia, made the early running, but Submarine was> in front six furlongs from home, and won by a dozen lengths. Glenallan was 100 yards away third. The Ladies' Bracelet Handicap attracted, 17 starters, and Bazil led all the way, winning easily by 70 yards fiom Erin's Tracy, who beat Lady Irvirtgton by three lengths. Six lined up for the Burwood Handicap. Rosebery, a colt of whom something good had been predicted, showed the way till five furlongs from home, when Myall drew out and won easily from Edward R., who just beat Rosebery for second place. The popularity of three-mile races was shown by the large field of 16 going out for the Windsor Handicap. Woodlander made all the early running, remaining- in charge till half a mile from home. Exchequer, Jie favourite, then went to the front, and won. with little to spare by eight lengths. Woodlander beating "Dick Stevens by 50 yards. Then followed Kelso and! Mah Honey. Seven werut out for the Progressive Handicap, but Structure and Major Irvington had the race to themselves at the end of a mile, Major Irvington winning by six lengths from Structure, with Bellwind eight lengths away. The Autumn Handicap attracted a, field of six. Robert Emmett soon went to the front, and though Dick Fly caught him at the end of a mile, Robert Emmett drew away again, winning easily by a dozen lengths, with "Vanish six lengths behind Dick Fly. The winner i 3 owned by Mis 3 Button, and the victory was very popular. Fourteen took pa-rt in the Electric Handicap. The Gift showed the way for balf a mile, when she bioke bAdlx. Joy. taking up the running flora

UndeTwood. Joy was first into the straight, and, stalling- off a, late run by The Gift, she won by two lengths. Eulogy was six lengths away third, and Bess o' the Barn, fourth. The field for the Dash Handicap numbered a dozen. Star Child and Wild Wave were in charge at the end of half a mile, but th 3 latter retired a little further on. Fancy Girl took second place at the home turn, and a great finish ended in favour of Star Child by a head. The Gift being three lengths away, just in front of Bellbird. On Saturday » start was made with the Innovation Handicap, for which 15 started. Bazil and Trixey V. were together in the lead at the end of a mile. Turning for home Bazil had a comfortable advantage, and appeared to be winning easily, but his driver was caught napping in the last few strides, Trixey V. winning by a length. Erin's Tracy was 50 yards away, third. Nineteen lined up for the Ladies' Bracelet Handicap. A great finish was witnessed, Princess just beating Lady Irvington by a neck, but the latter was not placed, having started before*ber time. Jolly Tom, who finished a hundred yards away, thus go" second money, being followed home by Bazil and Ngaire. There were six starters for the Wainoni Handicap, bat mishaps to their hopples put Lady Lylian and Royal Ribbon out of court very early. Dick Fly was in front soon #fter the start, and he won comfortably from Prince Warbeck, who just beat Peacock for second place. Hinau ran well for a* mile, but - then tired badly. The Brighton Handicap attracted a field of 10. Tea Tree and Robert Emmett were in front at the end of a mile, with Discoverer close up, followed by Verax. There was not much to choose between this quartet at the home turn, but Tea Tree finished well, and beat Discoverer by two lengths, Verax being a dozen lengths away. Eight lined up for the Avon Handicap, Laudervale being favourite. Rotholia made the early Tunning, but Submarine was in front a long way from home, and won easily by eight lengths, with Laudervale five lengths behind Rotholia. The field for tlie Advance Handicap numbered nine. John, the favourite, was in front ell the way, but Miss Vivian kept him at top, and the margin between them at the finish was only a length. Havelock was 50 yards away, third. A dozen took part in the Telegraph Handicap. Eulogy made the early running, but The Heir was in front before the straight was reached, and won comfortably from Bessie 8., with The Needle and Eulogy next. The meeting was brought to a close with the Final Handicap, which attracted 13 starters. Wild Wave streaked away at the start, and, never giving anything a chance, won easily by two lengths from The Heir, with Fancy Girl a poor third. Ruapehu has been sent to the West Coast to fulfil engagements at the Greymouth meeting this week. The two-year-old Officious, by Finnland — Busybody, has been sent home for a spell. This filly gave promise in the spring of developing into a good performer, but she has failed to act up to expectations. M'Guinness has removed his team to- the stables lately occupied by G. MurrayAynsley. Owing^ to the hard tracks he is unable to give Rose Noble «nd Idealist any severe tasks, but he is keeping Euclid busy in view of autumn engagements. T. W. Price has almost completed breaking Mr G-. Payne's yearlings. The only one that has" not been ridden is the Stepniak — €Ti^sy Countess filly. Her breaking-in has been delayed through a slight mishap. I hear there is likely to be a strong team of Canterbury horses at the Waimate meeting this week. Gold Braid's knees are causing Holmes some trouble, but it is not anticipated that the lameness will prevent him from, continuing to work. Shieenan has sold the three-year-old sister to Hilarity to a- southern sportsman for 120gs.