CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 133, 9 February 1893, Page 7

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S AUTUMN MEETING.

The entries for three of the principal handicaps at this meeting, which comes off on Saturday and Monday, April 1 and 3, closed on Friday night. The results are not, however, very satisfactory, for the Great Easter Handicap and Great Autumn Handicap total up 5 less than last year, while the Steeplechase entry is a poor one. However, there is a good acceptance of 14 for the Champagne Stakes.

Among the 44 entered for the Great Easter Handicap—which total is one more than last year —are St. Hippo and The Dancer, whose names I was very surprised to find in the list considering the valuable engagements the former is entered for at the Australian Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting, which comes off at the same time. The other North Island entries are Fraternite, The Workman, Merganser, North Atlantic, Thame, Queen of Trumps, Retina, Scot Free,

Durus, Chris, Ua, Dreamland and Swordbelt. Doubtless some of these have been entered because they are in the valuable Challenge Stakes to be run at the same meeting. Last year’s winner Hippomenes is also in the list, and one noticeable fact is that Florrie has been entered by Mr D. O’Brien, which would lead one to believe that after she has been raced at the Victoria Racing Club s Autumn Meeting she will be brought back to the land of her birth. There are 32 nominations for the mile and a-half Great Autumn Handicap, which is 6 less than last year’s entry. Here, again, we find St. Hippo, and the North Island is further represented by Fraternite, Merganser, North Atlantic, Thame, Queen of Trumps, Retina, Revolution, Scot Free, Rosefeldt, Ua and Boulanger. The trio that filled the places last year—Prime Warden, Palliser and Merrie England—are all entered. The dearth of steeplechasers now is evidenced by only eight horses being entered for the Steeplechase. Among them is the “ crack” Norton and Mr D. O’Brien’s Freeman, who has been for some time now in Australia, and has not been by any means a success there. As I have mentioned above there are 14 left in the Champagne Stakes, which is extremely satisfactory. Beadonwell, Loyalty, Strowan, Reflector and Westmere are all good winners, and curiosity will be evinced over the running of Mr E. Cutts’ colt Lake Shell, who is half-brother to Pygmalion and Cynisca. The weights for the Great Easter Handicap, Great Autumn Handicap and Kildare Steeplechase are due on the 11th prox., and in the two first at least Mi Henry has some puzzling tackle to work on. However, I doubt not he will be equal to the occasion.