CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 48

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

By Fritx.

Tho excessively dry spoil that has been experienced lately has had a marked effect on tho training tracks at Kieearton. Tho grass gallops have been quite out of tnc question, being much too hard to fine favour ivith ihe trainers, even had they been available. The work lately has been chiefly confined to tho plough, and even this favourite track has only been kept in fair order by ihe attention it has received from the caretaker, who has had it well watered every night. It is a long time since there has been quite such a dry summer, and the trainers have been fortunate in having such a good plough at their disposal.

Tho local tracks arc usually deserted during the Christmas and Now Year holiday season. There are no meetings at home, and tho trainers scatter to all corners of the Dominion with their teams. Prom what can be soon at present very few horses will be left at home this year. A fair contingent will be. assisting at the Auckland Racing Club's meeting, while it is probable that the West Coast circuit will attract more than the average support. By far the largest proportion, however, will do the southern trip, commencing with tho Dunedin Jockey Cl ib's fixture, which will probably attract upwards of 40 horses from Canterbury There will then .be a division of forces, a few horses from this quarter being under orders for Invorcargill, though the majority will bo seen at Oamaru, where they will bo assisted by others who will not be racing at Wingatm. R. D. O'Donnell left for Auckland on Thursday with tho Yaldhurst team, consisting of The Toff, Wishful, Koesian, Bon d'Or, Plymouth, Ample, and Redrock. They are a good lot, and they should secure a fair share of the spoil at Ellerslie. Much of tho success of the trip will depend, however, on how Tho Toff shapes. The programme mapped out for him has undergone some change lately. The original intention of Mr G. L. Stead was to rely on Wishful in tho Auckland Cup, for which he found some support quite early, and when the first acceptance was made on behalf of The Toff it was not with any serious, intention of starting him. Proof of this is to be found in the fact that Mr Stead gave C. Emerson permission to accept another engagement for tho race. The list of acceptor:;, howover, did not lock particularly strong, and it was eventually decided to allow the Derby winner to tcke his chance in the Cup, for which ho has been solidly backed during the past week, till he now ranks as one of the favourites. That he will give a good account of himself js the general feeling here, for he has already given evidence that he is above the average as a galloper. I have heard some arguments lately concerning the Great Northern Derby, and have found more than one sound judge prepared to back The Toff to beat Sasanof the first time they meet, no matter what the distance may be. W. H. Thomson went north on Thursday With Marc Antony, who will contest the Auckland Cup and other events at Ellerslie. The Varco hcrso looked well when ho left, but I am afraid ho is a trifle backward as a result of his spell, which was necessitated by the knocking about he received at the Now Zealand Cup meeting.

R. J. Mason intencred to loavo for Auckland last Tuesday; but he found it necessary to delay his departure till Friday, when ho took Bimeter, Biplane. Creenstrect, and Thames. This is a very useful team, and it will be a matter for surprise if some of the prize-money at Ellcrslie is not secured by Mr G. D. Greenwood. Considerable interest attaches to the doings of the two-year-old Biplane, who is entitled to rank among the best of his age seen out this season ; but he will have to do something more than he has yet accomplished before I will accept him as a champion. Bimeter must always have a chance in tho best sprint company, while Greenstreet and Thames, though not such classy performers, must be labelled as a useful pair, either of whom may pick up a stake during tho northern trip. H. Cutts got away on Saturday, taking Good Hope San Sebastian, and Clavcrhouse. It was originally intended to include two others in the team, but they had to be loft behind. Flying Start has been slightly lame lately, and is. temporarily • on the retired list, though the trouble is not regarded as serious. In the case of his full sister, Full Speed, tho position is much worse. She pulled up lame after a gallop recently, and it can be accepted as pretty certain that she will not race again this season. The trio to represent Sir George Clifford at Ellcrslie cannot be described as strong, but possibly a minor race will be secured. The Chokebore Lodge team has had more than its share of bad luck lately, and a change of fortune would be welcome. A special train will be provided by the Railway Department on Thursday to convey the Canterbury horses south for the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting. Among the local trainers who arc getting road/ for the West Coast campaign a.re 11. Ellis T. H. Gillott. I'. Holmes, J. Bine, B. Burgess, F. Scdullar, F. C. Thomson, and 0. Stratford, while it is possible that A. M'Aulay may take a team over for the Hokitika mooting after doing one of the southern fixtures at New Year. Competition promises to he keen on the Coast circuit this season: but the contingent from this ruiartcr should be quite equal to securing a fair share of the prize money. G. Murray-Aynsley has arranged to race his team, consisting of Snub, Wardancer, and Mattie, at Wingatui. after which ho will go on to Invorcargill for the South land Racing Club's meeting. It will be tho

first timo he has travelled so far south with his' horses.

'!'. Shcenan has just broken in a two-year-old colt, by Nautiform —Passion. Tho Riocarion trainer W. M'Donald has had the misfortune to lose his yearling colt by San Francisco —Matchbox. The youngster, who was a colt of considerable promise, broke a leg in a gale, and lie had to be destroyed.

Local stables are fairly strong in maidens at the present timo, among these who are in forward condition being Mattie, Kiljoy, Glen Helen. Winter Cherry, and Dove Token, without taking account of others with only a small stake to their credit. The five named will be racing in tho south during tho holidays, so there should bo some interest in tho maiden races.

Nones was responsible for a useful gallop a few mornings ago, but she has since carried evidence of her exertions, in the shape of a slightly enlarged joint.

Pec and Zuland have been restricted to easy pacing since their return from Australia, but they will be in active commission again beforo long. Pee was a trifle light when she came back, but she looks in tho brat of health, while Zuland seems to have thrived on his Australian

trip. Matti-i galloped seven furlongs toe other morning in company with Snub and Wardancer. She had not been so far in any of her previous work, but she ran on well.

Kiljoy has been shaping well in sprinting raski lately, and she looks like developing into a useful filly.

Week End is in good fettle at present, despite frequent attacks of lameness, and 'ho may n ward her connections with a win before long.

Peaeh'ng Lady was given a turn over tho schooling hurdles during the week, and acquitted herself creditably for a novice. i understand that Sir Malt has been sold to a patron of C. Giesler's Wingatui stable, but he will remain in his present quarters for the present.

Comely lias been striding along freely in her tasks lately, and a win may come her way during the holidays. Snub,has quite recovered from his recent troubles, and he :s moving in good style on the tracks. With a little luck the Martian gelding stioulci pay his way on the southern trip.

i. M'Aulay has his team looking well. They have got through a lot of useful work lately, and they will lack nothing in condition lor engagements close at hand. So far no definite arrangements have been made as to the programme lor the holiday season, but they will not be racing at any of tho Christinas meetings. The crack pacer, Our Thorpe, will bo racing at Ash button on Boxing Day, and a week later he will take part in the chief event at Canterbury Park. ■ Considerable interest attaches to his reappearance, as he has not been seen in public since ho met with an accident at Porbury Pak last season. R. M'Donnell and A. Bright, two wellknown Ashburton trainers of trotters and pacers, were drawn for military service in last week s ballot, which also included A. E. Wormald and R. S.'inomson, who are associated with Ricoarton stables, 'ilie South Canterbury Jockey Club made a profit of nearly £3OO over the spring meeting, though the receipts were below expectations, chiefly owing to wet weather. Tho taxation in connection with the meeting amounted to £894, but it was paid "under protest,'' pending a test cast against the Commissioner of Taxes. The club had the unusual experience of making a loss on the guaranteed special trains. Before tho spring meeting of tho South Canterbury Jockey Club a question arose as

to whether Belishirc was eligible to race in hack company, as he had won exactly £4OO in stakes. The problem was solved for that meeting by tho withdrawal of Belishire-, but a ruling was sought from the Canterbury Jockey Club. This has bc_en received, but it does not clear up the point, which will be submitted to the Racing Conference. The trouble hinges on the wording of two rules. A meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association was called for last Wednesday, but it lapsed for want of a quorum, only Messrs P. Selig, H. F. Nicoll, W. H. Denton, and R. W. Short being present. This was quite an unusual experience, and ono which it is to be hoped will not scon bo repeated. The committee of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club has decided to_ revert to the seconds system of handicapping for tho February meeting. I cannot help regretting that the club should so quickly have discarded the yards system, which has not had a fair chance yet. Trainers > and horses are still new to its peculiarities, added to which there has been no 6Ct style of starting under it. In tho meantime, however, it looks as if there would bo a general reversion to the old system, to which so many grave objections have been taken.

Canterbury stables will bo strongly represented at the Auckland Trotting Club's meeting tlv's year. J. Brycc intends to take a big team north, including the Australian coir. Chid, a popular fancy for tho Great Northern Derby, while Childsdalo will bo his candidate for tho Auckland Trotting Cup, for which he has the confidence of a big section of local backers. I expect, howover, that- the favourite for this race will be Lady Haldane, who will go north in charge of her -owner, Mr W. J. Morland. She has come through a good preparation, and will be driven by A. Fringle, who will also have Bellflower racm<r, A. Riondrk'ksou will take Prince Akwood, and his chance cannot be ignored, as he appears to be back to his best form. W. Black* will have Irvingwood and two maidens under his care, while P. Delargey will make tho trip with Macwood- M. Ed-

wards may also'take some of Irs team north.

The annual meeting o f the CanterburyTrotting Horse Owners and Breeders' Association was held on Wednesday night. The annual report stated that a gratifying feature of the year's work was that tho trotting clubs had come to recoarnso that, the association was not in existence to tell them how to run their meetings, but to assist tho sport generally. Owing to tho various methods adopted by the clubs, the now system of starting by yards nad not so far proved a success. In some cases it was owing to the starting machine, but Ihe principal trouble lay in tho fact that the horses had been trained to a moye-un start, and did not seem able to g"t into the,..- stride from a standing start. It was a little earlyvet, to condemn tho system, as there was plenty of time for an up-to-date machine to be patented-which should prove a success. Appreciation was expressed of tho action of the leading clubs in the South Island in nrrnnsing to have a spare sulky at the starting post in harness races, to be available

in the event of an accident. It was pleasing to breeders that the Auckland. Forbury Park, New Zealand Metropolitan, and New Brighton Clubs had now included in their programmes classic races for three-year-olds. This was considered a step in the right direction, and one which would be the means of inducing owners to pay more attention to breeding. During the past season several special trains had. been run when the association saw lit to guarantee them, and in all cases they had proved a great convenience to owners. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: President, Mr W. J. Moir: vice-presidents—Messrs H. F. Nicoll, W. Trist, G. lies. J. C. Whiteman. R. J. Munro, A. Fleming, W. Hayward, jun., and W. Kerr; committee—Messrs J. Smith, G. S. Simpson, F. Holmes. G. A. Duncan, W. J. Alpe. F. Hickinbottom. N. L. Price, J. Bryce, A. Hendrickson, land R. W. Franks; secretary and treasurer. Mr C. W. Hervey. A letter, was read from the Forbury Park Trotting Club, agreeing to provide a sulky at all futurs meetings for use in case of accident. It was decided to write to the Railway Department, asking thatbetter lighting should bo supplied in horseboxes on trains. A resolution was passed expressing disapproval of the condition in the programme of the Canterbury Park Club for the rehandicapping of placed horses at any other meeting after the declaration of handicaps.