CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 63

CANT E RBURY DOINGS.

By Farrz. The weather during the past week has ba«n made up of samples, and not all of them have been favourable. In the earJy part we had plenty of variety, . in the shape of rain showers, interspersed with nox'-westers and sunshine. On Thursday night, however, rain 6et in in earnest, and it has rained ever since, with brief intermissions. As a. consequence the trades at Riecarton are very soft, and trainers are hard pressed to find suitable galloping grouno. This is particularly unfortunate, coining so close to the Canterbury Jockey Club's summer meeting. The foitunate tiain-ers at pie-=ent aie those whose charges are at Trentham, with a m«\v to talcing pai-t in the Wellington Racing Club-, mooting- vext w eek. There is a paiticularjy strong; Riccarfcon team away at Trentham just now. Armlet, Husbandman, Flita-nay, Broadsword, and Sharpshooter were on the ground early, and during the last few days the following other faor^es were shipped worth: — Mi&s Mischief, in charge of R. J. Mason ; All Gun=, Valdiinar, and C\mbiform, in charge of Mr M'Donald: Boutade and Gold-en Cairn, in charge of "V. Pine; Serenade and Mjthkal, in charge of G. J. Pine : Sweet Angelu-, in charge of G. HepEurn : Pjismoh, in charge of T. Sheenan : and Goldbeater, Glcnculloch, Applesrarth, and Kilwinning, in charge of H. Cutf. Nomination's closed on Friday for the Midsummer Handicap, St. Aibans Handicap, and Filly Stakes, the three leading handicap events at the -Canterbury Jockey Club's; summer .meeting, and the li^ts ma-ke excellent reading. This fixture is reeaiderl ns a purely local affair, and it is but rarely that any visiting horses figure j among the nominations. This year, how- ! o\cr. thoie are a few outsider', and local «ta!'!es are al c o very stroiiely in oviJence. There are 16 in the ifidsummr Handicap. , 21 in the St. Albdne Handicap, and 18 ■

' in tha I r ii'y Stakes. Numerically the I n< .'nina-ticns are far ahead of the usual re- | sponse, a<i<i quality is ai=o flrongly in j evidence. The Midsummer Handicap is I especially promising, and I am prepared to see a record field start for the mil© a.ud a-half race. The Malvern Trotting Club's meeting was held at Sheffield on Thursday, aridattracted a large attendance of town and' country visitors. The dub was very fortunate in the matter of weather, the only discomfort coming from the strong wind.' Thirteen bookmakers took out licenses, so that the funds must have been substantially increased by this source of revenue. Good' fields were seen out in most of the races,and some fair sport was witnessed. Eleveni horses lined up "or the opening event, the District Slaiden Handicap. Dorothy D.and Sound Sense streaked away at tha start, and they had tho race to themselves ,all the way. First. one and them the other held an advantage, Dorothy D. eventually -winning by six lengths. Erin's Tracy was third, a hundred yards away, with Dinny Mar fourth. Among the other starters were a pair of likely two-year-olds by Pviimalion. Sever lined up for the Sheffield Handicap. Adventurps* soon 1 worked her way to the front, and she was never s-erioitsly troubled, _winning by eight lengths from Major TTopetoun. who beat.' Mary Lincoln by two lengths for second' place. The scratching n-en was freely used 1 in the Homebush Handicap, but a field* of *ighi faoed the starter. Sound' Sens^ made all the running, but Ben Hur gradually overhauled her, and getting on term* two furlongs from liome. Ben Hur wort fey six lengths, with a hundred^ yards »w«t third. The winner was very,! favourably handicapped, and his time w&i^ n^arlv 20sec slower than his best record.;' He had a close caJl, however, as he had} to run the cauntlet of a protest for inter-", ference. The objection was dismissed/ but it was probably because the incident* had no effect on th« result, it beim? agreed that Ben Hur would have won in.' any case, for there was no doubt the interference took nlace. For the Bangorl Handicap the field numbered, 11. Classic* and Rosalie led in turn from 6tart t3 finish, Classic finally winning by three? lengths, with Mary Lincoln a dozen lengthy away. There were a. dozen 6tartcrs fo< the Midland Handicap. Leura and Ethef . Ball made all the running, but about thre< furlongs from home My Mistake went td the front, and going on, won by 10 length* from Leura, who was a similar distance in; front of Ethel Ball, with The Boss a hun* dred yards away. My Mistake was notl placed, as she had been reported by the{ starter for «oin« off before- her time. The< blunder was an unfortunate one, as there* was no doubt she would have won easily in any case. Eleven turned out for the( Ladies' Bracelet Handicap, Dorothy D.', and Fagaji were responsible for the paceibut the b*ek-m«rkers gradually overhauled? them. Two furlong-, from home Electric*' Bell ran tip to the leaders, and ho even-j tually beat Gold Eeef comfortably by £' | length. Fagan was a dozen lengths away, just in front oi Dorothy D. and? Major Hopetoun. At * meeting of the South Canterbury, Jockey Club, .hold in Timaru on Friday, evening, it was decided to call tenders fori improvements, including a new jockeys* board, an additional licensed booth, and a? ladies' waiting room, estimated to coett £320. The stake* for the autumn meeting, to be held on March 24 and 25,' trer« increased by £300 to £1320. January 18 r. M Grath, -who has been appoints private trainer to Mr J. F. Buchanan, arrived at Riccarton during the week with/ Bulletin, a three-year-old gelding by Pil--grims Progress— Gossip, therefore halfJ brother to the brilliant Bohrikoff. Bulletin, who is built on different lines to Mr* Lowry'a champion, is a hay in colour, and altogether a useful-looking sort. Th<af remainder of the horses -that Mr Buchanan* intends putting into training will not bs> sent down from Little River for somo time yet. Vologda, in charge of J. A. M'Guiness, was se-nt to Gore by train this morning: to fulfil engagements at the coming meetInge. The daughter of Irene, who is in< capital fettle, will be piloted in her enjragements b y R- J. King, who also lefi for Gore this morning. King's Way and John Peel were schooled over hurdles this morning, when the former made a good showing foe a be-ginper.