CANTERBURY NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 289, 6 February 1896, Page 11

CANTERBURY NOTES.

Death of the Trotting Stallion Berlin —The (i ringing-in ” ITare. [from our own correspondent.], January 22. News has been received from South Canterbury of the death of the well-known standard-bred trotting stallion Berlin. His stock are of the best many of his descendants having shown trotting ability of a very high order. The “ringing-in” of trotters seems to have become a perfect craze just now, five or six cases having occurred during the last few months, and I am sorry to say that Canterbury has provided her fair share of the duplicates. It appears that at Wellington last week Florence was alleged i o be identical with the Christchurch animal Vic-

torina, and since the meeting the allegation has been admitted by one of the principals. The Rugby-Sil verwood case is still undergoing the sifting process, and 1 hear that in a day or two the mutter will be settled. These two cases, coupled with the Here-I-Go and Bilbah disqualifications (the last of which, by the way, has not been heard), should go a long way to stop the practice of ringing-in. It is said that had stewards been more watchful in the past, many of those who now trot horses would have had the pleasure of witnessing future trotting contests from the wrong side of the fence. It is certainly peculiar that so many cases should have cropped up in so short a period. It has been hinted fo me that a certain trotter is not to be seen at his old diggings, and curiosity is manifested as to its whereabouts. Perhaps your city may be favoured with a visit.

[by wire.]

February 4.

The Canterbury Metropolitan Association, at its recent meeting, endorsed the disqualifications imposed by the Brighton Trotting Club and Plumpton Park Trotting Club on the horses Bilbah and Here-I-Go and all those connected with them.

Inquiries are still being prosecuted here regarding the alleged “ ringing-in” of Silverwood as Rugby in Otago. The matter should soon be settled. There seems to be little doubt as to the identity of the horse, the description sent from the South tallies exactly with Silverwood.

The other case of alleged “ ringing-in” of the Canterbury trotter, Victorina, as Florence, at the recent Wellington meeting, is almost sure to end disastrously to those immediately concerned. One of the principals has admitted that Florence and Victorina are the same, so that a decision in this case should not be long delayed. If all I hear be correct there will be a good many outside the pale during the next few weeks.