CANTERBURY NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 305, 28 May 1896, Page 7

CANTERBURY NOTES.

Talk about the popularity of trotting, this was proved on Thursday and Monday at the Show ! Ground. The Canterbury Trotting Club fixture : was the most successful purely trotting meeting ■ ever held in the colony, or indeed south of the , line. The sport too was of the best, some splendid , exhibitions being witnessed by the great crowd : which attended. On both days the weather fiend was on his best ; behaviour, and the track was good, especially on , Monday. The amount of money invested during the two days was a record one, and the total Sum • put through £10,035 10s. would have been a good turn over at some the colony’s Metropolitan race i gatherings. A deal of interest was centred in the Juvenile Stakes on the first day. Dictator, Imperial, and General Standish won their heats : whilst King Harold and Peak by finishing second tto the first two were entitled to contest the final. Dictator’s performance on the first day was good : enough to send him out a warm favourite for the final, which the son of Imperious —Nellie succeeded in doing, but not without a great set to 'with Peak. The winner broke repeatedly. ; The only other races which evoked any amount ;of enthusiasm on the first day was the Sires ,Stakes, a two .nile saddl event. General Tracey did not start in this race, much to everybody’s ;disappointment, as he must have had a great ■chance, judging by the pace shown by him in the (mile harness race which concluded the meeting, when he finished third. ! Brooklyn and Young Irvington were equally supported on the machine, but the latter struck himself soon after starting, and was never prominent. Brooklyn trotted splendidly, getting to the end of the two miles in smin Bsec, which he could have materialy reduced had he not merely 'jogged along the last quarter. Electioneer trotted well for two-thirds of the distance, but apparently cannot stay, whilst Specification was as lame as a cat. The Two-mile Harness Trot provided a pretty race right up to the distance post, Albert Victor and Prince Imperial being the only two with a chance. Prince Imperial, taking advantage of a skip by his opponent when near home, went on and gained the verdict by two lengths. On the second day the Three-mile Harness Handicap produced some splendid trotting by Brooklyn and Rita, but Ascot was too well favoured to give the other two much chance, whilst Ruadan was looked on as having a show. Ascot (52sec) soon passed Sacramento (52sec), and maintained his advantage right to the end. Brooklyn (9sec) and Rita (scr) tried their best to get on terms with the leader, but could not. Rita covered the three miles in 7min 33sec, and Brooklyn was fifty yards ahead of her at the finish. v Monte Carlo easily accounted for the Two-mile 'Saddle, whilst Spider won the Mile Saddle, and Kentucky Maud the Mile Final. After the conclusion of the. Juvenile Stakes, M. Edwards, driver of the winner (Director), was presented with. a gold chronograph watch, subscribed for by lady supporters of. the sport. In making the presentation, Mr Tonks, president of the club, spoke most highly, of M., Edwards’ ability as a driver, and paid a high compliment to the Hon. Mrs E. C. J. Stevens, who had been instrumental in raising the necessary funds, after which the lady handed the gold watch to Mr. Edwards, the latter thanking the president and also the lady for the handsome present.