CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 461, 25 May 1899, Page 13

CANTERBURY.

Speculatian over the Takapuna meeting—North Otago Jockey Club —The Christchurch Hunt Club — Some alleged bookmakers —Altair —C. Stratford-The Lancaster Park Trotting Club’s new ground. Christchurch, May 23.

There was some brisk speculation in Christchurch over the Takapuna meeting, but backers, taking it all through, went down badly. Straybird came here as a moral for the Maiden Hurdles, and on top of a private wire came a big commission to back the Wanderer. A sum of over £2OO altogether came from North for Straybird, but even the best of good things go down sometimes, for which pencillers are thankful. The few local sports who follow Ohaafe’s stables had a good win over St. Ursula, while another small party who plank their dollars on the Saints in every race they start also came out with a credit balance.

Sportsmen throughout the colony, particularly in Canterbury and Otago, will be pleased to see that the North Otago Jockey Club is again established, and that owners have come out with strong support fo the forthcoming meeting. Among local horses I see that Skirmisher, Djin-Djin, Starshot, Double Event, Strathnairn, Wedlock, Jib, Benzoin, The Orphan, Hypnotist, Crusader, and Ben Farley have been nominated for various events.

The Christchurch Hunt Club held a race on Saturday open to horses the bona fide property of farmers whose country is at the disposal of the club. The course was over two miles of hunting country, with a first prize of 25 sovs, the winner to be sold for 25 sovs ; any surplus to go to the fund. There were seven starters, and after a good contest A. Bayley’s Sultan (£25), 13.0, won by three length from P. Muirhead’s Victor, 13.0. The winner was ridden by his owner, who got his horse back at the entered price. The race created a considerable amount of interest, and was witnessed by over two hundred people. Another batch of alleged bookmakers appeared at the Rangiora Court on Tuesday last to answer a charge of having trespassed on the N orth Canterbury Jockey Club’s racecourse. F. Franklin, H. Mooney, W. Draper, and R. Chamberlain were each fined £3, T. Butler and T. Watson each £2O. The four first-named had previous convictions against them. Another of Mr Stead’s horses has been sold to go to England. It was announced yesterday that Altair, the winner of the last Canterbury Derby, will leave for England by Wakanui leaving Lyttelton about Saturday next. At a meeting of the stewards of the Christchurch Racing Club yesterday a letter was read from O. Stratford, who was disqualified for two years for improper conduct to the president and the clerk of the scales at the autumn meeting of the elub at New Brighton on Wednesday last, apologising for his conduct. Stratford attended the meeting personally, and expressed his : -regret. After a long discussion, the stewards decided to revise their previous decision, and to disqualify Stratford during the pleasure of the club. On Saturday the Lancaster Park Trotting Club secured a lease for twenty-one years of thirtyfive acres of the Twigger estate, adjoining the show grounds at Addington. The land is most suitable for a racecourse, being nearly square and perfectly level. It is understood that the lessees intend to approach the Canterbury Trotting Club with a view to getting all the principal trotting meetings held there. Steps will at once be taken to lay out the track and erect a grandstand. The rental is £4 per acre per annum. The club will take possession on June 1.