CANTERBURY DOINGS

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 63

CANTERBURY DOINGS

By Fritz

The weather conditions during the past week have shown some improvement on those experienced for some time previously. Rain has fallen once or twice, but only in light showers, and from that point of view tho weather, for the first time for many weeks, has been both pleasant and seasonable. With the conclusion of the holiday meetings, most of our trainers are homo again, ami Riccaiton has resumed its normal conditions, after a very quiet spell, extending over several weoks.

Wo are now getting close on to tho summor meeting of tho Canterbury Jockey Club, and local trainers are keeping their" charges right up to tho collar with a view to engagements at that fixture. Unless a few ho;ses from a distance are nominated, I am afra.kl that quality will not be very strongly in evidence at the meeting, as our local stables are poorly provided with good handicap performers. At the conclusion of the Auckland Racing Club's summer meeting H. Cutta brought Masterpiece, Counterfeit, Avarice, Winning Way, and Scottish Star on te Pidmereton North, where lie staved for ovei a week, talcing advantage of the excellent' tracks provided on the Awapuni course, He has now reached Trentham, where tho team under his care claim engagements at the approaching meeting of tho Wellington Racing Club. Sir George Clifford will have a strong team to carry his colours at this fixture, as E. Cutis is going north with Aut-umnua and Heather Brae, both of whom have got through useful work during the past week. Their presence at Trentham should materially strengthen the Cbokchore team, which will be unlucky if it does not secure a share of the good prizes.

Backers fared very badly in the early hotting on the Wellington Cup. From the time tho weights appeared they fastened on to Counterfeit and Byron, and many of those who had doubts as to Counterfeit starting supported her stable companion, Mastorp'oca. The_ withdrawal of Counterfeit and Masterpiece, at an early stage, saved the situation; but Byron then became a stronger order than ever. The publication of the acceptances, however, showed that hi? owner had ether indentions, as he dropped out of the Cup, while having hi* engagement continued in the Telegraph Handicap. Once more, therefore, backers have fallen in through trying to anticipate things. It does not seem to matter how often they get on to a wrong track, however, as the fascination of early backing seem* too strong for many pcoplo to withstand.

U. J. Mason came on to Christchuroh after the Auckland meeting, but ho left the horses which he had at Ellerslie behind him in the North Island. No will go back this week to Trontharn to see them through their entragiments at, tiio Wellington Rneing Club's mooting-. T. Cotton, who lias had quite a bipr innincra lately on the Otngo ffcklfields an<l Southland with Kohinoor nmi Grand Tioto, ha« taken Kohinoor and SiDienco north to fulfil engagements at the Foxton mooting, Racing enthusiasts ore looking fuiv.arc with keen intoreat to the mooting of the two-year-old colts. Autum.nu« nnd Prinoa Soult. in the five-furlong Wellington Stakes at Trentham. It promises to be the stat event of the mooting. Kaeh colt will hav« of admirers, and a groat race maj be expected. An unfortunate accident occurred last week to Mr G. D. Greenwood's mare. Perl d'Or, bv Multiform—Aura. Perl d'Or and two other horses were Pent from Christchurch to their owner's run. Toviotdalo. Andwrloy, for a ?po\]. On being liberated Porl d'Or immodiat.elv galloped away from the flat and no a hill. M> Greenwood, on coiner to see if the horses had settled down, found the marc lame, and on examinatic?

discovered that the fetlock joint was broken. A veterinary iurgeon was called in, and put the injured limb in Pn*>b* <? f Paris. The racing oareor of Perl dOr is now ended, but should the joint mend she will be used for stud purposes. The mare, who is a sister to Golden Slipper, was one of Mr Greenwood's purchases at the sale of the late Mr G. G. Stead's horses, and cost her present owner 2000 guineas. A monthly meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association was held on Wednesday ; present—Messrs P. Selig (chairman), R. O. Duncan, C. F. Mark, H. F. Nicoll, C. S. Howell, and W. G. Garrard. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. H. Pollock and Denton.—A letter was received from the St. John Ambulance Brigade stating that for many years members of the brigade had attended all meetings held under the auspices of racing clubs, and had given their services free of cost. Injured jockeys had been attended to, and all appliances needed for 6rst aid had been supplied by the brigade. The brigade was carried on by subscriptions from members and donations from clubs which had recognised the valuable service rendered. A circular was enclosed, ottering tho services of the brigade at all public meetings whore accidents were likely to happen, and stating that although the brigade did not expect to be paid for its Bervioes, it would be pleased to receive donations from various bodies interested in and benefiting by the work. Tho Chairman eulogised the work done by the brigade, and said that personally he would bo in favour of making a small donation, although the matter was one for the clubs affiliated to tho association, rather than for the association. Mr Garrard said that ho also was of opinion that the question was one for the clubs to decide for themselves and not for the association. Mr R. 0- Duncan agreed with Mr Garrard OJid the chairman, and moved that a copy of the letter should be sent to the various Trotting Clubs affiliated to the association, recommending that the assistance of the stubs should be given to tlie brigade and that in the event of no officer of the brigade being available tho clubs should provide ambulance assistance in some other form. The motion was carried.—An. application from Mrs Tura Tahui to change the name of her gelding Wild Robert to Whiti, owing to there being a number of horses in the Kaikouna, district known as Wild Robert, was granted.—The action of the Forbury Park Trotting Club in dismissing tho protest by E. J. Smith, trainer of Millwood, against the horse lola for alleged deliberate boring in the Recovery Handicap was endorsed, as was jho club's action in cautioning the owner >nd rider of Petruchio in the Second Amateur Handicap. An application from t. J. Smith for the refund of £5 protect Jeposit money, lodged with the secretary .i the Forbury Park Club pending the inquiry into tho running of the horse lola., »as "forwarded by the club to the associa Hon, and it was decided to reply that such' a course would be impossible. The action of the Cromwell Jockey Club in dismissing a protest against the horse D.C.L. for breaking was upheld. The Wanganui Trotting Club wrote suggesting April 6 and 8 as dates for its meeting. It was decided to approve of the dates, provided they did not clash with those of any other meeting. An application from D. S. Grant for the removal of the disqualification imposed upon him and his horse, Colenso, was granted. Licenses, as recommended by tne Licensing Committee, were issued. Tho committee recommended that the application of A. M'R-ae should bo refused; that the application of H. T. Smith for an amateur license should be refused, and that ©f Mrs Matthews ehould be held over. The reoommendations wore adopted. Accounts for £B4 8s od were passed for payment. Mr Garrard stated that in tho reports of trotting meetings it was frequently Stated in the newspapers that no timo was taken. He considered that timss in trotting ♦rents were of tho utmost importance, and Jie asked what action the association would take against clubs which violated the rules by omitting to take times. It was decided that circular* should be sent to all clubs under the jurisdiction of the association stating the importance of having timekeepers at every meeting, and insisting that they should carry out their duties. Mr Garrard quoted the case of tho Hororata dub, which, in forwarding tho report of its last meeting, omitted the time in one race, and it was directed that that club should be written to asking for an explanation.

Mr M'Donald will take Kimona and All Guns to the Wellington meeting, and the Stead stable will be represented by Culprit.

Bridges has taken in hand a gelding by Oalibre from an Apremont mare. It is a useful-looking sort except for faulty hocks. The Boniform—lngloneuk two-year-old ha* joined E. Scoular's active team. Her hocks are just recovering from some uglylooking cuts. Oronstadt is enjoying a spell in the paddock, but the brother to All Eed should be in active work n<rain shortly.

Bellah, by Royal Fus-iier— Lisadum. who has been purchased by Mr Machell, is now quartered at G. A. Pine's" stable. In view of our present weakness in handicap horses. ho should pay his- way in those parts. The two-year-old Bonitas, who was a lailuro in the spring, is moving along now In good si vie. as are two other youngsters In tho fn-no stable—the Seal Rock—Palotta gelding and the Abhilles—Ohainatitch fillv.

The Treadmill mare Creeset. who was injured whjle returning from the Oamaru meeting, died on her arrival at Timaru. The raiJw-v authorities are being- blamed for the ir»"°hin

Mr Alfred Evans, for many years clerk of the s":;!es to tho Canterbury Jockey Club, d'ed on Sunday, after a short illness follov.Wng on a nervous breakdown.