RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 857, 8 November 1916, Page 12

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. November 11—C..1.C. Spring, November 15 and 16—Wintnn J.C. Annual. November—22— Ashursl-Pohanglna B.C. Annual. Novemher 23 and 25.- South Canterbury .T.C. Spring. November 25 and 2'.)—Takapuna .I.C. Spr.u.g. November 2!) and 30—Hororata U.C. Ar.nv.ni. ACCEPTANCES. November 9—Winton ,i.C. Annual. Novemher 11— Ashurst-I'ohangitiu U.C. Annual. November 17- South Canterbury .I.C. Sprm:, November 17—Fell ding .1.0.. SnrlnKNovember 17—Takapuna .I.C Spring. November 25 Hororata .I.C. Annual. Novemher 2!l Woodvillc .I.C. Summer. TROTTING FIXTURES. November !l and 10 N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Spring. . . November 18 and 22 Olahuhu I.C. Spriiig. Deceml 1 and 2 Forbury I'nrK I.C. Spring. rl . , Decenihei 11 and 10 New Brighton I.C. ACCEPTANCES. • November 10- -Otahuhu T.C Spring. November 20 lorbury I'a.rk T.C. Spring. December 8 New Hi ighioi: T.C, Sinnr.ur. TURF TOPICS.

•Though everything promised well for the opening da> of the New Zealand Trotting Club's Spring Meeting, unforeseen cimimslauces arose which quite marred the success of the afternoon's racing. Just when the manv thousands drawn from ell parts of the Dominion should have been enjoying the big trotting event of the year, their attention was engrossed bv viewing an altogether different spectacle—the destruction by lire of the lines! and most complete stewards' stand in New Zealand, if not in Australasia. At the time the conflagration bs:oke out the Cup horses were all stripped for the frav, and several hundred pounds had already been invested on the tolalisalor. Under the circumstances there was no option but to postpone the decision of the big event till the flames had subsided. Another detracting factor was the unfortunate mishap which occurred in the race, right in front of the enclosure, whereby four of the competitors came to grief. Fortunately, the accident was unattended by serious results, but it robbed the race of much interest.

l\ is doubtful if a larger crowd has ever put in an appearance at Addington to witness a Cup contest. Every part of the Dominion was well represented, and one and all spoke in glowing terms of the splendid appointments and efficient management. Under ordinary circum-

stances it is quite probable that the! totalisnter receipts would have ** equalled last year's record, for betting started very briskly. As it was, j only £37,433 was invested, compared with £48,278 12 months ago. Taken all round, the racing hardly came up to the high standard of that usually associated with meetings at Addington. This was probably duo in somemea-| S'.U"e to the new method of starting,; which evidently did not suit a number of the competitors. No doubt, will) more experience, the standing start will be a success, for in yesterday's events the fields were invariably in good line when the signal] was given. Thai so many of the j competitors failed to strike a gait | was no fault of the starters. The Spring Handicap, with which; proceedings opened, was a disappointing rare. Albertoria looked to j have winning prospects when a circuit had been left behind, for at this stage she was right out in front. A bad break lost her her place, and from I!)is out she never recovered N her position. Miss Salisbury trolled steadily all through and though she did not show any great amount of pace, the others went so unsteadily as to make her task easy. Albertoria showed a good turn of speed in patches as did Bow Bells, but Parkfield, the favourite, could not be in- j duced to settle to business. Mokau was another who spoilt his chance! at the start. Three withdrawals from the Empire Handicap left a high class field i of 13 to go to the post for that event. Favouritism rested with Hannah M. though there was also strong support for Young Tobu and Queen Tracey. The start appeared to be a good one, except that Hannah M. and Queen Tracey were slow to move. After Irvwyn and Irvingwood had set a solid pace from the start Young Tohn ran past them when a little over half the distance had been covered. Pacing along in greatly improved style the son of Tohu drew right away. Half a mile from home Hannah M. made a great effort, but though she had Young Tohu fully extended in the straight she could not make much impression on him. Only for losing so much ground at the start Hannah M. would probably have won, for she was putting in .solid work all through the second mile. Irvingwood ran his best race to dale in gelling third place, and only for a couple of bad breaks Bellflower would assuredly have been dangerous. Our Thorpe, who has not been going any too well in his work, was! the only eleventh hour 'withdrawal from the Trotting Cup. This enabled! Flemington to lake the mount on St. Ursula, and broughl the Auckland mare into increased favour with backers. Nothing moved heller in the preliminary spins than Emilius, Cathedral Chimes, Admiral Wood, and Erin's King, all of whom were trained to the hour. Bryce's pair, Cathedral (mimes and Admiral • Wood carried the hulk of the investments, while there was plenty of money for the Ashburlon pair Emclius and Evelyn, also Erin's King. Outside this lot nothing was deemed to have much chance. After one breakaway the big held got off in good order, though Brown Bell, Tommy G, and Wallace Wood were all slow in sell ling to business. Eccentric started particularly well, and lie made play for over a mile with Mandcrene, Succeed, Evelyn, Steel Bell, and SI. Ursula following in close order. The veteran grey held his advantage till passing the outer stand for the second lime. Then he stopped so suddenly Ilia! Succeed, who was almost on terms, [nil her foot through Brankin's sulky wheel, and in a trice both horses were over. Brown Bell and Erin's King also came down over the prostrate horses, while Frandocia and St. Ursula had their prospects seriously hampered. This left Mandercne out in front, with Cathedral Chimes, Evelyn, ami Admiral Wood in handy positions. Five furlongs from home Cathedral Chimes drew to the front, and from this oul the result was never in doubt. Pacing along like a piece of machinery the Southlander drew farther and farther away, going comfortably, while the others „ were being driven hard in * 8 vain endeavour to reduce

the gap. Brycc took no risks with his niounl, eventually scoring comfortably by half a dozen lengths from Evelyn, who stuck to her task wills lhi> utmost gamenoss. After having none the best of the running Admiral Wood was putting in great work at the finish, while of the Mhers Mandercnc, and Jewel Chimes gave the best slmjvings. It was one of Mm easiest won. Cups on record, bui f>'ryee nmsl be accounted lucky in escaping she trouble that interI'crc.l so Seriously with many of the others, At the lime of the mishap Erin's "'iiig was going particularly w.'li, jusi i:; front of the winner. (iiven a fair run he would undoubtedly have been dangerous. Before a circuit had been completed Emilius got knocked oui of his stride by one of the other competitors, and would not settle down again. The Ashburton representative was pacing in great style at the time of the mishap. Altogether the race, like so many of its predecessors, was not a success from a spectacular point of view. Olive L. showed greatly improved form by winning the Middleton from end to .".id in the smart time of hnin ■M 3-asec. She made the pace so solid all through the iirsl mile as to

disorganise most oi the held, and though El Carbine showed great brilliancy in patches, a couple of breaks quite spoilt his chance of catching the winner. Since going into Berry's stable Olive L has improved both in speed and stamina. She did not make a single mistake all through, and finished up going almost as strongly as at any part of the journey. Nothing showed more speed than El Carbine, who is still inclined to gel in the air when asked to do his best. The "mana" of Bryce's stable was sufficient to install Soda favourite for the Lyltelton Handicap, and right well did the diminutive daughter of Harold Dillon and Franca play her part. Overhauling irvar half a mile from home she soon had his measure, and though Capriccio kept her going to the finish she could not make the least impression on Bryce's game little mare. For her inches Soda is one of the greatest pacers in the Dominion. Capriccio bettered any of her previous displays in getting second place. Her driver subsequently laid an objection against Bryce, on the ground of interference, but the stewards decided not to take any action. After flattering their supporters in the early stages Irvar and Sir Fulham both failed to sustain their elf oris. The latter showed a phenomenal burst of speed for half a mile and then went all to pieces. Of the back markers Oinako gave the best display. Backers would not hear of Author Dillon's defeal in the Riccarton Handicap, the handsome son of Harold Dillon being backed down to an altogether false price. Unfortunately for his many supporters the Derby winner made his task particularly severe by dwelling on the mark till the back markers had passed him. Once into his stride he paced along in great style, cutting down his opponents one after the other, till only Sherwood remained to be caught. Though he made a gallant effort the task was too much, and at the finish Sherwood had him well beaten. The latter had a nice passage all through, and under any conditions would .have given Author Dillon a good, race.

Several of the competitors in the St. Albans Handicap were thought to have excellent chances, those in most demand being Quincey Maid, Nance O'Neill, Bacchus, and Ariadne. Starting more smartly than the others on the limit Ariadne got such a break on his tield in the first half mile as to take all interest out of the issue. At one stage of the journey Quincey Maid looked like troubling the leader; bid she could not sustain her effort. Outside this pair nothing ever bad a look in, which is not surprising seeing that Ariadne went the mile in 2min 14 3-ssec, thereby clipping fully five seconds off his handicap time. Rose Dillon treated the spectators lo a similar exhibition in the Hagley Handicap. Getting to work very smartly she had the result in safe keeping a long way from home, eventually winning comfortably from Colmena, who was the only one to make any impression on the leader. Sungod ran a solid race in getting third money, while Seychelles showed a return to his very best form in finishing up fourth.

Messrs Pyne and Co. will hold their annual yearling sale to-mor-row at 10 o'clock, the place of sale being Hayward's stables, Chester Street. The yearlings arc a very line lot, and altogether number just on 50. Drafts from the Waikanae, Elderslie, KinlOch, Burnside, Warrington, Mount Pleasant, Brackenfield, and Flaxmere Studs will go into the ring, and among the sires represented will he Birkenhead, Bezonian, Martian, Kilhroney, Rokeby, Sarlo, Demosthenes, Mcnschikoff, Boniform, All Black, Treadmill, and Masterpiece. Among the youngsters to be offered are relatives of many highclass performers. TEMPLAR.