CANTERBURY NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 298, 9 April 1896, Page 9

CANTERBURY NOTES.

[from our own correspondent.]. At Lancaster Park ou. Saturday, where the attendance was particularly good considering the abominable weather—it. rained nearly all day—and the downpour, in addition to what had already fallen, made the track terribly heavy., and the mud, which was a mixture of yellow clay and other ingredients of a stichy nature, made riding or driving about as unpleasant as

could well be imagined. The bad going had the effect of completely upsetting what were con? sidered good things, but I do not fancy to such an extend as some believed. Rita (from scratch) had won the Autumn Handicap at the beginning of the last lap, having passed the breaking Three Cheers, Josephine, Redmore, Lady May, Shamrock, Black Oats, and Prince Albert, in rapid succession, finally getting home by four lengths in the easiest fashion ; Prince Albert was second and Black Oats third. The Three-mile Harness Trot was a gift to Three Cheers, who, trotting without a skip, caught the judge’s eye three hundred yards ahead of Rita, who had been penalised 4sec. The others never had a ghost of a chance of defeating the winner, who paid the nice dividend of £lO Bs.

The stewards called on Edwards to explain the recent apparent inconsistent trotting of the winner, and withheld the stakes till the following day, whilst paying out the dividend on Three Cheers. Subsequently the stewards decided to pay over the stakes to Edwards, bnt at the same time they informed him that they were satisfied he had done his best to win the Saddle event.

Darling was disqualified during the pleasure of the Club, as also was her owner. The stewards intend to hold an inquiry into the conduct of two individuals who misconducted themselves at the recent meeting.

Enquiries are still being made as to “ ringing in ” of trotters lately, and several gentlemen are sure to be put outside the pale of the “ track ” if all I hear be true.

The Hawera Trotting Club hold a meeting during the Egmont Steeplechase Meeting. R. Taggart’s lease of that splendid-actioned trotter, J.H., having expired, the big horse will return from Dunedin to his owner, Mr Bryant, of Johnsonville (Wellington), shortly.