CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2921, 9 March 1910, Page 55

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Feitz. The spell of dry weather which has been experienced for some time oame to an end last week, during the latter part of which a large quantity of rain fell.. The tracks at Riccarton received a thorough soaking, and they .wet* so bad on Saturday morning that fast work was out of the question. With a number of race meetings to engage attention during the next few weeks, the trainers can ill afford to be without good galloping ground, but I expect that the caretaker .will remedy this defect by throwing open the grass track this week. The weights for the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps made their appearance on Friday, and they have occasioned the customary amount of discussion when sporting enthusiasts have gathered together. Differences of opinion have been very marked, which may be accepted as an indication that Mr Henrys has been very successful in his attempt to conceal the winner. Gold Lace has not done much lately, but her form at the New Zealand Cup meeting was very impressive, and it was only to be expected that she would be well looked after. She has been asked a big question to win under 9.9, but Cruciform was only a three-year-old when she successfully carried a ' similar burden in 1902. Last year Armlet won in brilliant style, but she only had 713.„ This year she wa3 weighted at 8.13, and a 141 b penalty for her victory in. the Jackson Stakes will further increase her weight to 9.13. There seems something radically wrong with the penalty conditions as applied to many of our big handicaps in New Zealand. When Armlet was successful in the weight-for-age Jackson Stakes she probably did no more than Mr Henrys expected from her. If the handicaps for the Great Easter Handicap had been delayed' till after the second day at Wanganui, it is doubtful if Armlet would have received more than 8.13; yet she has to put up an extra 141 b because the weights were issued twenty-four hours before the Jackson Stakes was run. In the Great Autumn Handicap Oiyoi has been highly assessed, and it is evident the handicapper formed a very big opinion of the son of Stepniak when he won the Dunedin Cup. Looking oarefully through the lists, I should say there is reason to anticipate a good field for each race. What is specially wanted, however, is to find a large number of visiting horses at Riccarton this month to ensure interesting sport. By Friday we should be able to form a good to the prospects of the meeting, as on that day the first acceptance is due for the Groat Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps, as well as forfeits for the Champagne and Challenge Stakes and entries for the mini>r events. Volodia is doing good work under the direction of C. PSper, in whose interest she will race in her engagements this season.

E. Redmond hjts the hurdler Southern Cross looking in good ordei--The yearling filpes by Kilcheran—Poltava and Stepniak—Tempest have been broken in by T. Cotton, sen. A mar 3 by Peerage—St. Linda has been taken in hfnd by FT P. Claridge. Th& meeting mil at Little River last

week marked a new era in connection with racing, as it was the first fixture in Canterbury since the rules regarding compulsory registr i;ion of racing colours came into force. It might have been expected that there would be some trouble, but only one owner had neglected to register his colours, and his case was quickly adjusted. The North Canterbury Jockey Club s annual hack meeting will be held on the Rangiora couive to-morrow. The horses engaged are not a very high-class lot, bat there are plenty of them. The Akaroa County Racing Club's meeting, which is the most popular country, fixture in Canterbury, was held on the Little River course on Thursday. For years past the meeting has been held on a Tuesday, but the change to Thursday should prove a wise move, as it enables a larger number of Christchurch visitors to patronise the gathering. The attendance last week must have constituted a record. The special train from Christchurch was crowded., and residents of th? district also mustered in strong force. _he weather was dull in the morning, and in the afternoon a light drizzling rain set in, making matters a trifle unpleasant for everyone, though it was not sufficient to seriously affect the proceedings. A field of six turned out for the Hurdle Handicap, and there was a good race between four for nearly a mile, when Nova shot out and .von very easily from Antony, who just got up in time to beat The Seer for second place. Claymore shaped well for six furlongs, when he retired. The winner was returned as by Stepniak—Fanna, but the Stud Book shows him as being by Gipsy Grand. There were seven starters for the Maiden Plate. Windgun was always up with the front lot forcing the pace, and she drew right away in the straight, winning by four lengths from The Cornet, with Manrose three lengths further back. Windgun, who was racing at Wingatui, is by Royal Artillery—Whirlwind, and I expect "her to improve. So also with The Cornet, by Handsome Jack—Orchestra, who will see a much better day. The Peninsula Cup attracted a field of 10; it provided as fine a contest as one could wish to see. White Cockade took charge running, out of the straight, with Boutade, Lovelorn, and Passion in close attendance. There was very little^ change in the order until turning for home, when the leaders closed up, and The Libyan also joined in. From this stage there was a great race, White Cockade just lasting long enough to beat Lovelorn by a head, with Boutade a nos& away and Passion and The Libyan on their quarters. White Cockade has been a very lucky purchase for Mr J. Westerman. for whom be has won quite a number of races since L j secured him last spring. Lovelorn was tiu unlucky performer of the race, as she got a bad bump going out of the straight. But for the ground she lost there I think she would certainly have won. Probable made no show, but he is not nearly ready yet. Eleven was the main for the District Trot Handicap, and there was an interesting race in the early stages, but Wooddale had the field beaten a long way from home, and won by 50 yards from Magpie, who was a similar distance in front of Colonial Girl, with Violet Rothschild next. _ The field for the Kinloeh Welter Handicap was reduced to a quartet. Shillelagh was responsible for the pace, and he appeared to have the race won when the straight was reached. Then Merry Lass put in her claim, and with Shillelagh stopping Merry Lass got up and •won by a length. Musterer was a poor third, and Harvest, who is not ready to race, last. The Wairewa Tro* Handicap attracted a field of 13. Erin's Tracey and' Gipsy Bell were in front for a time, but Wooddale and St. Cyrus had their measure at the end of a mile, Si Cyrus eventually winning by six lengths from Glenallen, who •beat Woddale by three lengths. The field for the Tarawera Hack Handicap numbered eight, but there was only one in it, as Glenfield drew away in the straight and won as he liked by a length from The Cornet, who beat Sea Girt by a similar margin, with Windgun close up. Cannonier lost his rider soon after the start, and went on riderless till he fell into the river, from which he was only recovered with difficulty. Glenfield is a four-year-old by the exGovernment stallion Glenapp, and he can muster up some pace, but he does not look hike making a big name in open company. The day's programme was brought tr 'a close with the Forsyth Flying Handicap, in which Luperin gave his three opponents no chance, winning by three lengths from Merry Lass, who was a neck in front of The .Seer. Mr H. Thompson acted as starter, and in most of the events he got his fields of? smartly and in good line. The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club met on Tuesday. Mr A. Boylo was elected chairman for the remainder of the year. The following programmes were approved:—Le Bon's Bay sports, Orari sports, and Marlborough Racing Club. Trainers' licenses were granted to J. Lorgelly'and J. J. Williams, a jockey's license to A. J. Hastings, and an apprentice jockey's license to W. Bush. G. Carruthers's application for a jockey's license was refused. The following transfers were approved:—l. G. Duncan to C. Breese., Victoria, br f, lyr, by St. Ambrose—Tamarind; b c, lyr, by Achilles—Olivette; to G. D. Greenwood, Amberley, b c, lyr, by St. Ambrose—Seal; b f, lyr, by Conqueror—Veronique; b f, lyr, by Achilles—Bluewafcer; b c, lyr, by Martian—Allegresse; b c, lyr, by Conqueror—Moresque; br f, lyr, by Sir Laddo —Purity; b f, lyr, by Martian—Two Step; b f, lyr, by St. Ambrose —Bonette; to Mr Higbden, Wellington, b c, lyr, by St. Ambrose—Marseillaise. B. Christie to Sir Geo. Clifford, Christchurch, b c Melchoir, lyr, by Kilcheran —Melita. J. J. Craig to V. Cornaga, Auckland, cb o Doughboy, 2yrs, by Gluten —Goldweb. J. F. Buchanan to S. Nettlefold, Melbourne, b f Fireglow, 2yrs, by Martian —Fireside. C. G. Dalgety to S. Nettlefold, Melbourne, blk f Martyre, 2yrs, by Martian —Nantes. L. O. Hazlett to W. M'Kay, Dunedin, b c Soldiers' Chorus:, 2yrs, by Martian—Grand Opera.