CANTERBURY NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 284, 2 January 1896, Page 10

CANTERBURY NOTES.

[by WIRE OWN CORRESPONDENT.] December 31. The New Brighton Trotting Club had a most successful day’s sport at the suburban convincing ground on Boxing Day. As it was a holiday and it being the only sporting meeting in the neighbourhood, the attendance was good and the speculation brisk, the sum of £2142 10s. being handled bv Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin. r l he trotting as a whole was distinctly good, the big race of the day being splendidly contested. Vick won the Maiden as he liked, Beatrice occupying second position. The winner is by Victor, and although M. Edwards had to ride him nearly all the way he eventually won easily. Taradale had an easv task to win the Pony Handicap, nothing but lonic ever getting within a distance of the gelding after half lhe distance had been covered. Lady Agnes won the Boxing Day Handicap from end to end, August finishing second. The Maiden Handicap was won by Destiny, who is by the thoroughbred horse, St. George, Sans Souci six lengths away second. 1 think 1 am correct in saying that this is the llr-t of the progeny of St. George to win a trotting race, although many by Burlington have been successful. The Brighton Handicap Trot (in harness) was won by Alice Asmore. It proved an exciting trot from beginning to end. The winner started favourite, but did not settle down into her stride until a mile and a half had been covered. Then, however, she began to improve her position, and on entering the straight for home was close on the heels of the leading division, which comprised Sea Foam, Mistake, Carolina, and Little Ben, all of whom were trotting abreast. Rotheram, who was trotting much better than during the first mile, was close up, and when Alice Asmore found an opening on lhe outside, Rotherham followed her, the latter eventually finishing second to the mare, with Seafoam close up third ; Carolina, Little Ben, and Mistake close behind. Honest Wilkes, driven by our recent visitor (Mr Albaugh) also started, but was never in a prominent position. lie is a finelooking horse, but evidently not quite ready. Alice Asmore is a remarkably fine animal, combining pace and quality with great size. Bilbah beat Lady Agnes by a length in the mile Electric, both breaking just before reaching the judge, Bilbah set l ling down the quicker. Lady Agnes easily won the the two mile Trot in smin’36 : }sec, and was penalised two sc-onds only in the mile. She ha l but fo trot the same gait to complete the journey in 2min 48see, and, although the actual race took 2min 48fsec, Lady Agnes was much too well treated, and of course was made favourite. A protest, was entered against Bilbah on the ground that he had trotted at Wellington under the name of Fagan. The stewards adjourned the matter until the following day, retaining thetotalisator investments. The question was again held over until enquiries could be made in the North Island. The final Trot (in harness) was won by Carolina, who had previously prepared backers for her victory by the way she shaped in the trot won by Alice Asmore. I hear that Microbe, a well-known pony trotter in the South, is dead.

The riders of Fawn, The Count, Maud, and Totsy were each fined £1 at Potter’s Paddock last Saturday for not driving out their mounts in the Maiden Trot.