DESCRIPTION OF RACING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14074, 18 August 1916, Page 9

DESCRIPTION OF RACING.

(Special to Herald.) I CHRISTCHURCH, this day. \ There were seventeen stai'ters for the August Handicap, the chief flat race of the day. Cherry Blossom and Glenroy were the prime fancies m a field of generally well-backed horses. The Thompson Handicap winner, Oxenhope, carried the confidence of Timaru people, and old Obsono, who looked extremely fit, was backed by plenty of good judges. Battle Eve was looking all right, and Heeltap was rion© the worse for his Winter Cup effort. Rorke's Drift also looked weW. Derby "Day was prominent at tiie start, and with Cherry Blossom, Speedometer, Oxenhope, George, Seadown, and Glenroy formed a division that looked dangerous. At the distance Seadown made a fine effort over the closing halffurlong. , ■ She won very nicely from Oxenhope, who waa not much m front of the Winter Cup winner. Speedometer found the distance too far, and Hee.tap' was beaten for pace, after being m a bad position m the iftiddle of the finished lot. Crown Pearl was taken out of the Grand National Hurdles, leaving eighteen to fight for the big prize. Backers mado Kooya favorite, and then, m order they backed Leonta, Crib, Master Regel, Te Onga, and Art. There was a false start, and individual horses delayed proceedings for a bit, Pursefiller being especially anxious to get away. When Mr Wood did let them go Kooya, stood still, and Leonta. was siow to move. Master Regel and Golden March, with Pursefiller, Styrax, and Kilmeny following, set out to make the pace. Joining Art, Golden March failed before going a mile and three-quarters, just as he had done m the Trial Hurdles on Tuesday. At the finish Ait came very fast, just as he had done m the Jumpers' Flat, and he fairly outstayed the Aucklander, and gained a very popular f victony by no; more than a short head. Sir Solo once more finished well, and he ran into third place, followed by Marconi and Harbor^ Light. Kilmenyj who finished sixth, ran a sterling race under his light impost. He was always one of the first division until the very last. St. Elmn, favorite for last year's Grand National, was seventeenth favorite m yesterday's race, Braeburn, Ransfield,' and Merry Lad did hot turn out for the Beaufort Steeplechase, their respective owners on consideration preferring the longer distance of the Lincoln Steeplechase ■on Saturday. ' For once m a way Queen's Post and New York stood up for the whole of the journey* They finished first and second respectively. Waimai was m the lead with. Queen's Post, and outjiunping her at every fence, when 'he hit hard at the jump five furlongs from home. This gave New York a fresh lease of life, and as Idealism again failed over the last two- hundred yards. Queen's Post won by four lengths from New, York/ who was two lengths m front of Lady Bibbero, with ( Recharge fourth, and Idealism (who was favorite) next: Bravest, Oratonu, and Kaupokonui were the others to fa^.l besides Waimai, while Sam Pan, after toiling m the rear, was pulled up.; Queen's Post has raced with bad luck on several occasions, and she deserved her win. She is very fast on the flat, and should improve considerably m jumping with more time. In the Sumner Handicap Mr W. D^ S. Mac Donald's Grand Idea wa« never prominent at any stage of the race.