THE NATIONAL MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 58

THE NATIONAL MEETING.

.The Canterbury Jookey Club's Grand National .meeting of 1908 will be deservedly established in the memories of those who were at Ricca-i'ton last week as one of the very best oross-ooantry eatherings that has ever taken place on the course. From Start to finish the weather was splendid for the time of the year, -and the going just about right for racing over hurdles and Country. That the track was by no means slow is evidenced by the smart times hung up after some of the races. That is to say, smart performances under welter weights. The Winter Cup and the National Steeplechase, which comprised the chief items on the first day's card, were both really excellent races to ■witness, but as fine a cross-country raco as one could wkh to see was provided by the Beaufort Steeplechase on the second day. In the Winter Cup Penates and Motoa carried too many guns, as we would say in Auckland, for the opposition, but thf>re was a battle royal for supremacy at the finish. The " big steeples " was a highly interesting race, as with the exception of Loch Iryne. who tailed off from the outset, the field ran in fairly close order throughout, but for «. really fine display of fencing the calm, has to be awarded to the field which contested the Beaufort Steeples. In this race the field was bunched, and at the last fence least four appeared to have • -good winning cha-nce. The ground Gold Seal saved around the last turn gave him 4 material advantage, and he drew out from the final fenoe to win with very little to «pare. The Grand National Hurdles was fcJteo an excellent race, and Paritufcu's -victory was proclaimed as he raced handy to the leaders over the last five or six furlong 3. However, it was not to be, as Siormont jumped clean away from him at the last fence, and the advantage he gained practically won him the race, in the •writer's opinion. The margin which he liad in his favour was less than what he gained at the jump, a,cd, although many insline to the- opinion that Stonnont won With something in hand, it would hardly appear to ba the case, as Jarvis kept his

• mount going- all he knew in the run from the last obstacle. Scotty was favourite for the race, and in finishing fourth under difficulties (he walked lame when coming in), it was clear he must have been very ; dangerous if the luck of the race had been a bit more in his favour. Top Rose is entitled to a share of praise, as he was . helping to make the pace up to a mile and three-quarters. The principal steeplechase of the concluding day admits of little description, as Audax practically ma.de a one1 horse race of it. In the early stages a lancied article for his races in Starlight was running with the Birkenhead gelding , but the latter out-paced and out-jumped Lhe former, and finally came home a comtortable winner. Kait-are ran a gallant race, ■ but the pace was too hot for the top weight | who struggled home to beat Le Beau for second honours. Stormont followed up his Hurdles after a hard fight, from the last fence with Stronghold, Pretty Maid, Leesi<te, and Aorangi. One of the most notable r was of the meeting was registered when j , €^ km L klLd «d Yasa a winner in the RedI clitte Handicap. The cheering was bright i and spontaneous, and with the echo of the reception in his ears, Jenkins will, no doubt, m future do all he can to retain the confidence of the public. From a financial point of view the meeting was very successful, as the totalasator returns were very good, and the shrinkage in the figures as compared with last year will be more than counterbalanced by the fees levied from the bookmakers for the privilege of betting. The management was well up to the stan-' dard usually on hand at Ricea-rton, and the one blot on the programme is that it carj ried too many races for the time of the ! year. Taken all round, however, there is | nothing bm praise to be said about the gathering, and -so long as the C.J.C. can •supply their patrons with the sport that wae witnessed last week they will not lack patrons when, the flags fly at Riccarton for their cross-country carnivals.