CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 741, 19 May 1904, Page 8

CANTERBURY.

Christchurch, May 18. Machine Gun and Golden Lily returned home last week. Lady Lillian failed to show her usual 'brilliancy at Ashburton, and it is evident this beautiful mare has not regained the form she showed this time a year ago. I am told Lady Lillian will be kept up to the collar in view of the Oamaru Meeting later in the month. Silkworm is at the top of the list of winning two-year-olds for the season. Silkworm won six races, his stake money amounting to £1799. Stronghold with five wins annexed £1045 in stakes. The other .winners are as follows Golden Lily, three wins, £925 ; Boris, two wins, £B9O ; Tessera, three wins, £455 ; Ailsa, four wins, £445 ; Beau Seaton, two wins, £445. The decision of the Court of Appeal of the Racing Conference in the Gladsome — Convoy case has formed the subject of much criticism during the past few days. Mr J. Reid, who is the principal party affected, has been the recipient of many telegrams from sportsmen throughout the colony conveying expressions of regret It is stated that neither Sir Geo. Clifford nor Mr S. Bradley vill claim the stakes for the Great Northern Derby and Auckland Plate. The decision of the judges came as a surprise to many Christchurch sportsmen, but it is very plain that the decision could not have been otherwise, seeing that Ure rides pro-

vide that an apprentice must rake out a license before he is qualified to ride. Mr H. Friedlander has definitely decided to retire from racing, and will in future confine his attention to his breeding establishment in Ashburton. The defeat of Machine Gun in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes was a severe blow to followers of the yellow jacket. The Canterbury horses fared very badly at the Northern Meeting, failing to score a win. Djin Djin had a bad fall m the Winch, more Handicap, at Ashburton, .but apparently he escaped injury. Since returning from Ashburton the son of Dudu has been running in the paddock. Mr J. Taggart will leave for Auckland with Slow Tom to-morrow. All going well Slow Tom will be a starter in the Northern Steeplechase and Hurdle Race. The horse has shown ability to jump big fences, but he will probably tail to stay the journey in the Steeplechase. 1 am inclined to favour his chance in the Hurdle Race, in which he will be bard to beat if specially reserved ior that race. Seaton Delaval heads the list ,of winning sires among the two-year-oids, his progeny gaining £2592. Cianranald is second with £1763, Stepniak third with £1390. Seaton Delaval has now topped the list three years in succession. Mr Sami Brown will be represented in the Wanganui Steeplechase by "Victory, and by Roller in the Century Hurdle Race.