Inter-Provincial.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 441, 5 January 1899, Page 14

Inter-Provincial.

LOwn Correspondents.)

CANTERBURY.

Skirmisher—Biza/rre — An accident to George Dowse, the handicapper —Canterbury horses on the West Coast — The Ashburton Racing Club’s Meeting— The Canterbury Trotting Club’s Summer Meeting.

Christchurch, January 3. Skirmisher was on his best behaviour at the Ashburton County Meeting, and won the Cup on the first day in fine style. He carried top weight (9.10) over a mile and a quarter, and gave Bloomer nearly two stone and beating him. Murray Hobbs pulled off two races on the first day at Ashburton by the aid of Bizarre, who has been unlucky for some time. The son of Apremont was once very speedy up to six furlongs, and appears to have regained his old form; He cut out the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, in lmin 17-2-sec, not at all bad time for the track. Mr Geo. Dowse, the well-known handicapper, met with an accident while returning home from the Ashburton races on Monday. His horse shied, and Mr Dowse was thrown heavily on to the road. He was severely shaken and much bruised.

The Canterbury horses, Epaulet, Sequin, The Spinner, Miss Charm, Rochester, and Haria have been very successful at West Coast meetings, all of them having won races, the three first-named, having had the best run of luck. The Ashburton County Racing Club’s inaugural meeting was commenced at Tinwald on Monday, and attracted a large attendance. There was some capital racing. The ball was set rolling with the New Year Handicap, seven furlongs. There were six starters, of whom Bizarre (8.12) was made favorite, with Alcestis (8.7) next in demand. Matlock (8.0) made the running for two furlongs, when he was joined by Legerity (7.7). These two landed in the straight together, but Bizarre soon disposed of them, and beat Matlock by a couple of lengths, Belligerent (8.10) third. Dividend, £3 4s. Four horses saddled up for the Cup, one mile and a quarter. Skirmisher (9.10) was not quite as well backed as Bloomer (7.11). After Rex Il.j and Bloomer had raced together for a mile, Skirmisher joined them, and in the run home Skirmisher proved to be the best, and won by a length from Rex 11., who was just in front of Bloomer. Dividend, £2 12s. F Cotton’s Valentine, by St. George, won the Novel Race, five furlongs, beating Rosebill and Agreeable. Dividend, £5 9s. The Galloway Handicap, four furlongs, brought out seven ponies. Topsy (9.7), an aged daughter of Perkin Warbeck 11., won by half a length from Katie O’Shea (7.10), Minister (9.0) being third. Dividend, £3 ss. \ ? Huku (8.7) was made a red-hot favorite for the Braemar Welter, one mile, and after a good race beat Windermere (9.9) by a head, Nor’Wester (8.2) being third. Dividend, £1 10s. In the Hurry Scurry Mustella (8.4), a fiveyear old mare by Tattler, finished several lengths in front of Kissmiss (7.6). A protest was at once entered against Mustella on the ground that her identification was not satisfactory. The stewards held an enquiry, which was adjourned for further particulars. The dividend on Mustella was £4 13s, and on Kissmiss £6. The Flying Handicap, was won somewhat easily by Bizarre (9.0), who was followed home by The Orphan (8.2) and Ben Farley (8.7). Dividend, £2 ss. , , The Canterbury Trotting Club’s Summer Meeting was concluded on Monday in the presence of a big crowd. The sum of £5,897 was passed through the tote, making a total of £lO,BOO for the two days, or £2062 more than was put throuh at the same meeting a year ago. The great attraction was Fritz, who was successful in capturing a purse of 100 sovs offered by the clnb to the horse that trotted a mile in 2min 15sec or under. Fritz was in his best form, and, trotting beautifully, left the half-mile behind in lmin ssec and the mile in 2min 13sec, thus putting up a fresh Australasian record. The Premier and Co. arrived on the ground just too late to see Fritz trot, but Buckland sent his champion out again, and although he tiotted splendidly, he did not do better than 2min 16sec, a very fin performance, which evoked great enthusiasm. The New Year Handicap, three miles in harness, furnished some really good trotting. Buckland’s Sunshine, by Vancleve, took command just after going two miles, and won by sixty yards from Vasco (51sec), Johnny 111. next. Time, 7min 46sec. Kola (18sec) won the Lincoln Handicap, two miles in saddle, in smin 6sec, Monte Carlo . (scr) being second seven lengths behind the winner. Monte Carlo’s performance was exceptionally good, and one that stamps him .as the < fastest trotting horse in the colony at the present time. Utah (15sec) won the Telegraph Handicap, one mile in harness, in 2min 34sec, Mace’s colt, Candidate (15eec), being second, Miss Poole (Msec) third. Monte Carlo (6sec) could not get near the winner. Fritz (ser) did not start in the Final Handicap, one mile in saddle. Jessie (7sec) won in 2min 25sec, Eulalie (15sec) being second three lengths away. Monte Carlo (ser), Stonewall Jackson (7sec), and Gazelle (4sec) were among the starters.