CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 50

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

(13v Fiutz )

vVith the exception of Wednesday night, when rain fell steadily for several hours, xve have had a week of glorious weather, more like spring than any other season.’ E\en the one night’s rain did not seriously affect the R'ccarton tracks for very long, and as a result training operations have not been seriously affected. The South Island horses that took part in the winter meeting of the Wellington Racing Club have returned from the north, after earning very little di.Cnetion at Trentbatn. The Rieearton contingent consisted of Daylight TVI! and C inonv, while from North Canterbury there were Tim Doolan and Stamboul. and from South Canterbury Evonlode and Silkw-b. In addition to these there wore the horses. Ria Ova. Sportsman. Royal Medal, a.nd Red Earl. Most of the horses named will, I texpeot, he seen out at the Grand National meeting at Rieearton next month, , Latest reports concern'ng Daylight Di 1 ] istate that Mr D. Rutherford’s gelding will tot fulfil any engagements at the Grand

•National meeting. it is further stated that lie will not De luitner tilea at stoeplechasuig, but wul be counned m future to events over hurdles. Certainly lie has not so tar been a success over country, and i am disposed to think the reported move is a iv.se one.

X'rom presejit indications we will have a big coniiiigont ot North Island horses competing at the Grand .National meeting next month. Already mere is a strong team at jLi.ccarcon, among them being The Spaniard, r.r tuning, Nortii East, Cnroso, Dorando, woronetied, Awanou, Riro Atuu, Field Force, Hautere, Watchchain, Tree Lucerne, Napper dandy, Gaily Bridge, and Koroniai. Further add.tions to tiie list of visitors may be expected every day during the next week or two. With so many outside horses

about, the truck doings will soon become very interesting. There was some schooling at Riccarton on Thursday morning. Gold Pin (F. Douglas), Ramrod (E. Muriivt), Pioneer (S. Almiiir), and Canterbury (W. Bush) were sent for a round of the hurdles in company. Gold Pm and Pioneer performed well, but Canterbury fell at the top ot the straight and Ramrod in front of the stand. Fortunately the riders got off with only slight injuries. Mr D. W. Gibson, who lias resigned ins position as stipendiary steward, will leave oil his return to Sydney at the end of next month. Nominations closed last week for the ,-nnual election of the New Zealand Trotting Association. The following is a i.st of tnosc nominated: —North Island (two to be elected) —-Messrs C. I‘. Mark, J. H. Pollock, and A. M. Samuel: South Island (seven to be elected) —Messrs E. Clarkson, W. H. Denton, R. 0. Duncan C. S. Howell, W. Hayward, A. L. Myers, H. 1* • Nicoh, P. Selig, and W. E. Simes. Of those nominated, Messrs Pollock Clarkson, and Myers were formerly members of the association, though they are not on it at present, and Mr Simes represents absolutely fresh blood, while the oilier candidates all hold seats at present. The surprise u the nominations is the fact that Air W. G. Garrard has not been nominated at all. This I regard as a distinct loss to the sport. Mr Garrard has been a member of the association lor a number of years, and has done invaluable work. I have hail opportunities lor terming a reliable opinion, and 1 say, without the slightest hesitation, that any other member ol the association could better have been spared. In the meantime the subject may be left there. At the annual meeting of the Kaikoura Racing Club a committee, consisting of the president, vice-presidents, lion, treasurer, and auditor, was appointed to wait on the secretary regarding the club’s property, and Air A. W. Renner was elected acting-secre-tary. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted n.s follows: —Patron, Mr G. \V. Forbes, AI.P. ; president, Mr G. Ed. Parsons; vice-presidents—Alessrs J. N'orrio, J, W. Davidson, and J. R. Wallace; lion, treasurer, Mr IT. L. Flower; committee —Alessrs A. J. Marshall, E. H. Workman, J. Brice, W. Alonk, N. C. Vale, W. Paterson, E. Wallace; stewards—Alessrs Workman, Marshall, W. Alonk, Pope, Vale, Brice, Paterson, Vangioni, W. A. Smith, T. Boyd, jun.; judge, Air G. Renner; starter, Mr J. Prince (with power to arrange for an assistant); clerk of course, Mr K. Alonk; clerk of scales, Mr J. W. Davidson; timekeeper, Air A. W. Renner; auditor, Air Vangioni; Finance Committee —Alessrs Marshall, J. W. Davidson, J. Brice; Programme Committee-—Alessrs J. Wallace, W. Alonk, Vale, Workman, and Renner. The Programme Committee was recommended to draw up a programme of the same value as that of last year if the meeting was to bo run without a totalisator, but to increase the stakes by £SO if a totalisator permit can bo obtained. Air Workman promised to give a cap for the Kaikoma Cup, on condition that the prize money for that race was not reduced. The offer was accepted. The balance sheet showed a credit of £52 11s fid. Excellent nominations were received on Wednesday for (ho August meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. Souio of the races, it is true, have not filled so well as was hoped, but on the whole the Ibt,-i are altogether satisfactory. All the local stables are well represented, while there is a strong contingent from outside districts, including a specially good entry 'of cracks from the North Island. The Sydney pair, Denver Huon and Alahoniet. also find a place. Under the circumstances the meeting should be more than usually interesting from every point of view. Friday was general-entry day for the Grand National meeting, and the response on the part of owners is very satisfactory. With 17 in the Grand National Steeplechase, 31 in the Winter Cup. and 22 in the Grand National Hurdle Handicap, the principal events promise remarkably well, and they should provide keen contests. After all the racing in the North Island the issue is admittedly very open in each instance, and backers arc still taking a wide range in their betting. The Spaniard and Dorando in the Steeplechase. Coronet.ted and Loch Mai iin in the Hurdles are the popular fancies; but. there are plenty of others. The minor events have filled pretty w"ll, though I admit I expected to see bigger entries in the case of the Hack Hurdle and hunters’ events. July 28. There is considerable dissatisfaction among the trainers at Riccarton concerning the manner in which the training tracks arc managed by the Course Committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club. The special grievance at present is the restricted opportunities for using the grass tracks, and tbs trainers complain bitterly of the manner in winch they are hampered in this matter. North East and Phroso have attracted some attention since A. Hall brought them to Riccarton. North East is bearing a wellseasoned appearance and is evidently in fine fettle. He is still a hard puller in his dailv tasks, and is by no moans a comfortable mount for his pilot. In a ‘schoolmg t-Dc over the hurdles in company with Cally Bridge on Saturday, his effort was not inspiring. as he ran off at the third flight. Nevertheless the son of Kuroclydon showed he could fence all right. His companion, Cady Bridge, who is a useful-looking gelding jumned safely and his d’splay was marked with caution. Phroso was not accepted for in the Winter Cup. The daughter of Gir Tristram is feeding badly, and is really only a shallow of.what she was when we saw her here last Cup meeting. Another horse that has not been feeding v.-'-ll since his arrival Is Teviotdiie. and ho is. consequently, hexring a somewhat light a enenranee, Dorando and The Spaniard both look really well. The latter is an immensely improved horse compared with his appearance when he was here last year, while Dorando has also improved since I last saw

In a schooling task over the big fences on Saturday Chief Justice gave a greatly improved display, and with more judicious schooling there is every reason for believing that he will develop into a proficient fencer. Apple Pie, who accompanied Chief Justice, fell at the post and rails, but his rider escaped injury. Apple Pie's efforts over the fences have not been particularly praiseworthy, and he is another striking illustration frequently in evidence at this time of the year of a useful type of hunter and gig horse being spoiled through the efforts of his connections in endavouring to train him for racing. J. Coyle’s trio, Coronettccl, Awnhou. and Riro Atn, arc looking in fine fettle; Coronctted, especially, is bearing a brighter and more seasoned appearance than he did last venr.

Aim well is now under the care of G. J. Pino, who has the son of Souit moving along nicely. Buff Gauntlet, who is making his first visit hero, has gained a lot of admirers by h:s stylish appearance and fine action when galloping. He is under the care of C. Christie, who has brought a fine upstanding gelding by Sir Dove from Kdrain’s dam, Grand Rain, as company for Buff Gauntlet. The Sir Dove gelding is at present somewhat in the rough, and evidently has not been long in commission. Tn the absence of any suitable track for fast work on Saturday W. M‘Donald took the opportunity of giving Gold Pin some really good work through a schooling gallop over the big fences in company with Royal Medal, one of J. Thistleton’s jumpers. As the son of Terrapin came through the ordeal satisfactorily and was out exercising this morning there is still a .good chance of M‘Donald getting him to the post.