CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 351, 15 April 1897, Page 6

CANTERBURY.

Arrival of horses —Riccarton news and training notes —Meeting of the C. J. C.—Death of St. George— Musketry.

Christchurch, April 13. The weather has been delightfully warm and summer-like lately. This morning trainers were out early. Some capital work was accomplished by horses engaged at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn race-meeting, which commences at Riccarton on Easter Monday. Most of the North Island and Dunedin horses have now arrived, and on the whole the meetiNg promises to be quite as successful as its predecessors. Tire arrived from the north on Sunday, and is reported to be fit and well. Lord Kosslyn, Maremma, and Filda arrived on Menday night. The two first-named are much fancied down south for the double, the Great Autumn and Easter Handicaps. Tally-Ho accomplished a capital gallop over a mile and a quarter this morning, the last mile taking lmin 51sec. The Napier mare looks much better than she did when she visited Riccarton in November las'. Belle Clair cut oni. seven furlongs in lmin 30sec, while Belligerent, Telemeter, and Boreas, in company, travelled the same distance in lmin 33sec. Silver Shot defeated Sprig-o’-Myrtle in a gallop over seven furlongs, taking lmin 35sec. Leda covered a mile in lmin 59sec. At the monthly meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club, held on April 6, the disqualification of Charles Doherty alias Joe — Charles Doherty and the bay mare Ventura for two years from January 1, for corrupt practices, by the Wairu Hack Racing Club, was endorsed. The transfer of the Castor —Sunrise yearling colt from Mr T. Morrin to.Mr H. Barron was refused. A letter was received from the Bookmakers Association, with reference to the case of Profitt v. C.J.C., but it was decided not to interfere with the course of action. The programme committee recommended that penalties for winners in the New Zealand Cup commence on ihe Ist of September instead of after the declaration of weights, and that the Grand National Steeplechase be raised to £650 and the Grand National Hurdles to £5OO. These recommendations were adopted. On Thursday, at Enfield, the thoroughbred stallion St. George (by Yattendon —Lady Chester), while galloping in a paddock where he has been doing daily exercise for a couple of years past, slipped and broke one of his legs and had to be shot. He was insured for £lOO in the New Zealand Stock Insurance Association, but this does not represent the value of the horse. It is only a little over two years singe Mr Thompson, who bought St George at the brwking-up of the Middle Park Stud, bad an offer of £7OO for him. St. George was sire of a number of winners, including Merry England, Loyalty, Saracen, Au Revoir, and Erin-go-Bragh. Musketry was scratched for all engagements at the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday last.