CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 40

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bi Fhitx.

The Ashburton Trotting Club was fortunate in securing such fine weather for the Boxing Day meeting. With jio counterattractions locally to draw the sporting crowd, ihd meeting was very largely at tended, two special trains from Christchurch being Weil packed. It. was a very successful fixture in every way. The fields for most of the events were large, and there was some excellent sport, the feature of the racing being two solid performances by Tamarisk, who was successful in the two elrief prizes. The handicapping was. done on the yards system, and the starter (Mr 11. Reynolds) used a starting machine of his own invention, which had not previously been tried in public. Air Reynolds had a very busy day, the fitting up of the machine taking some time; but he got through his labours in fine style. The despatches were uniformly good, and the starting machine came in for much favourable comment. There appears to be a general feelimr that the yards system is done with, but it is safe to say that it would have made more friends had all the racetrials been made under the conditions, which ruled at Ashburton. There were no long delays at the start, and the horses, with few exceptions, acted as if the conditions caused them no trouble. The whole meeting was well managed. Air A. Fooks had the secretarial portion well in hand, while the president (Mr H. ,F. Nicoll) was busy throughout the day seeing that everything worked smoothly. Air C. Piper was the stipendiary stcvard; but ho had only minor troubles to deal with. The totalisator staff had a busy day, but the rush for business was well coped with. It was noticeable, as at other meetings held by the club, that the starting times were put back more than once; but the pro-gramme was not unduly delayed. It would, however, be bettor if the club would work on the reverse principle, and educate the public into making investments oarlv.

Racing opened with the Trial Handicap, for which the field numbered 11. Acushla Maehroe was a hot favourite, Great Britain and Miss Havoc having most admirers among the others. The Linnet was soon showing the way to the favourite and Miss Havoc, and, never being headed, she won comfortably from Acushla Machreo. Miss Havoc faded out badly over the last couple of furlongs, after pacing soundly up to that point. Acushla Machreo did not go at all impressively. She has Improved out of knowledge since she raced at Goraldino in the spring; but she is a badlygaited filly, and in this race she seemed on the verge of breaking all through the journey. Great Britain and Dillon Maid just pegged away, without ever looking as if they -would catch the leaders. The winner is a nice cut of a pacer, is a four year-old, by The Lark, by Prince Imperial— Kah'po, by General Tracey—Southern Queen, by Albany—Gentle. Annie, while her dam, Nonsense, is by Toronto from a Dexter mare. Linnpt should do her owner further service this season.

The Mitoham Handicap, for unhopplod trotters, attracted a field of eight. Wonderland _ being favourite. Imperial Victor was out in front all the way. and won with a little in hand, after trotting very solidly. Ho is a 10-year-old gelding by Prince Imperial, and this is the first race to his credit. There was a good struggle for second place between the two back-markers, Havana just boating Bow Bolls after a very attractive performance. Wild Night, Arcadian, and Hudson showed pace in patches, but did not go steadily, whili* Wonderland cut up badly. It was by no means an exciting contest.

Nino good class horses took part in the Ashburton Trotting Cup. Sinn-wood being slightly better backed than Tamarisk, while Young Tohu was third choice. Tamari.sk left the mark smartly, and he was in front all the way. Tie was always travelling smoothly, and he won in decisive siylo. For s.oino time past Tamarisk has been racing very disappointingly, his public displays being a long war below his track form. A few days before the Ashburton meeting he worked out well on the New Brighton track, and for once in a way he

raced solidly, finishing up his task like a tradesman. After this showing the son of Wildwood Junior may have to bo reckoned with in even harder contests over two miles. Sherwood did not begin well, losing a lot of ground, but/when ho settled down he paced alonp in his host style. ffo was alongside Author Dillon most of the way, but drew out over the last couple of furlongs, finishing up with a brilliant run. Had ho gone off well ho must have seriously troubled tho winner. Author Dillon showed plenty of dash in tho early part, but could not go on with Sherwood in tho run homo. iSt. Kevin paced a good race, end was probably a trifle - unlucky to miss second money. Succeed went well for most of the way, and she appears to bo coming' back to form. Evelyn travelled unevenly, though showing pace in patches. General Link was prominent only for a mile, while Young Tohu and Hardy Wilkes broke up at the start, and never looked dsngerous. Backers went strongly for Acushla Machree and Miss .Havoo in the Amateur Handicap, for which there wore 14 starters. It, was an interesting race, in which Mies Havoc, Miss Vera, Tho Linnet, Trix Pointer, and Robert Lyons played the leading parts. They were in a bunch at the the heme turn; but Tho Linnet, finishing very gamely, won with very little in hand from. Robert Lyons. Trix Pointer looked certain to secure third money, but sho stepped in tho last few strides, and was just headed by Miss Havoc. The winner's performance was even moro attractive than her earlier effort. Trix Pointer, an Ameri-csn-bred filly, brought out by F. Holmes at the same time as Logan Pointer, should win boforo long. Acushla Machree failed to fttrike her gait, her chance being gone early.

Dorothy Dillon was sorted out as a. good thing for the M'Lean Handicap, and she quite justified the confidence of her admirers. <She was out in front early, but broke, losing a lot of aioiind. When she settled down again she lan over her opponents, and won nicely from Darkness. But for the mistake sho would have robbed the race of all interest, and as it was there were only two in it over the last half-mile. The winner is a sister to Harold D., by Harold Dillon—■ Dorothy D., and sho looks like developing into a really good mare. John Peel, who was second favourite, broke up soon after the start. Muriel Star went, well in the earlv part, but was unable to sustain her effort.

The Boxing Day Handicap, the third successive event of a mile and a-cruartcr, provided the finest contest of the day. It was early apparent that Manderene would* bo favourite, and he wound up with a decided call over the bracketed pair, St. Kevin and Glendalough; while Tamarisk was third choice. The positions changed repeatedly through the journey, but at the homo turn it looked as if the final struggle would be between St. Kevin and Eccentric, who wore well clear of Tamarisk. When the straight was reached Eccentric began to tiro, and Tamarisk was fortunate to get an opening. He gradually wore St. Kevin down, scoring a popular win. St. Kevin was decidedly unlucky in having to put up with place money in the two chief events on the programme. Eccentric stopped badly at the end, and Manderene just cut him out of third place. Ben Dillon showed a lot of speed, but failed to run on. Einilius did not race up to his best form, though he was going well at the end. Glendalough was not in a racing huimour, and Little Kauri lost his position early. Franzalena -was one of the leaders for tho greater part of the journey, but faded out at the end. Our Thorpe shaped disappointingly, and considerable improvement will bo necessary before he wins a highclass race. It looks, in fact, as if there wore grave doubts about him coming back. The race was not nearly so fast as might have been expected, considering the quality of the field, none of tho competitors getting near the time they were handicapped at.

The President's Handicap attracted nine unhoppled trotters, but they were not a particularly good lot. General Grant was always one of the leaders, and he won with a bit in hand, after an even performance, without showing a great deal of pace. Bohemian went fast in the early part, but failed to stay, and in the run homo he was easily beaten by Mayfield. who was unlucky, as ho d'id not get, going at the start. If ho were moro reliable, Mayfield •would win good races, as ho has plenty of speed and stays well. Our Goldic and King Pirate, who were the popular fancies, never threatened danger, but Happy Jack was prominent throughout the journey. Backers were very much divided in their opinions about the Final Handicap, six of the 11 competitors coming in for solid support. Imperial Tracey was soon out in front, and, travelling in fine style, ho was never headed, winning with a bit to spare. Prince Poole began brilliantly, but stopped at the end. Proud Gir] beating him easily over the last fin-long. The others were some distance back at the finish. Elveno and Grandee, who were the favourites, failed to show up at all. Queen Patch stumbled and threw her driver out about three furlongs from home. She had a somewhat similar experience at the June meeting on the same course. The winner comes from a very successful family, being by Prince Imperial—Lady Francis, a halfsister by General Tracey to Imperialism, the dam of Kmmeline, Evelyn, and Etnilius. Tie is nine years old, but lie has not done much racing. Threo seasons ago he won two races, but ho has had a long spoil since then.