CANTENBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 826, 4 January 1906, Page 9

CANTENBURY.

Christchurch, January 2. Wth so many trainers away in the North Island and various parts of the South, things at Riccarton are practical y at a standstill. Only a few two-year-olds and horses without any engagements are at headquarters. Auckland, Manawatu, Dunedin and the West Coast have taken a large number of horses away from Riccarton, and up to the time of wr ting many of them have been successful in capturing a fair share of the pr ze money.

Kirriemuir’s win in‘the Foal Stakes at Auckland is the best win registered so far. This filly has now given Northerners a taste of her qua! ty, and there is no doubt that she is the smartest two-year-old seen out this season.

Quarryman’s poor showing in the Auckland Cup came as a severe disappointment to Canterbury sportsmen, who were quite prepared to see the Bill of Portland horse win outright. H»s breakdown in the race is a serious loss to Sir G. Cl'fiord, who will probably be deprived of the horse’s services for the remainder of the season.

The biggest • surprise, however, of the racing on Boxing Day was the downfall of Savoury and Eden at Manawatu. This pair had been backed down to 14 to 1 for the double— Manawatu Cup and Awapuni Handicap—and when the news came through that neither had won, many staunch supporters of the Yaldhurst stable were anx/ous to know what really had happened. Savoury apparently ran well, but met a better horse on the day; but Eden, on the other hand, gave a poor display, and is evidently not worth much. She has cost many backers more money than any horse in Mr. Stead’s stable.

The Ballaret people had, I hear, a good win over the mare’s victory in the Awapuni Handicap, but this was only the expected when anything in the same stable wins. Some of the bookmakers are again talking of fixing a limit on horses in a certain Northern stable.

The Stepniak—lllusion colt De W’tte, in F. Holmes’ stable, after making a good showing in the two-year-old events at the Christchurch meeting, went down to Dunedin and pulled off the double. De Witte ’s a very promising youngster, and should score well this season.

Catherine Gordon, as was generally expected, proved too good for the hurdle opposition. Holmes had the mare very fit, and as a result she had very little difficulty in winning both hurdle races. Rongoa, who acted as runner up on each occas’on, had bad luck in bumping against Catherine Gordon when that mare was in her tip-top form.

Pas Seul let backers down heavily over her failures at Manawatu. Very few people thought Ing.eneuk capable of beaFug the Soult filly in the Juvenile Handicap at a difference of only 61b. Ingleneuk is very fast over five furlongs, but tires badly over the longer distance. Royal Crown, Speculate, Ability and Leeside each won a race at the Reefton meeting, but the dvdends were small in each case.

At the Rakaia races on Boxing Day, the highly-bred Great Gun won the Ladies’ Bracelet and got second to First Shot in the Cup. First Shot got second in the Somerton Handcap, won by Silent Alember, a horse evidently named after the member for the district. Orkau won the Domain Handicap from Bouncing Bob and Iroquois. Bookmakers occupying offices in Chr’stchurch received a New Year surprise party yesterday afternoon. A small band of three men, consisting of one detective and two policemen, made a raid on the various offices between three and four o’clock, and were successful in securing a good bag at Barnett and Grant’s. The two principals were arrested, as was Mr. Livingstone and J. Ross at Ross’ establishment. A batch of eight or ten men were also captured, the charge being that they were on the premises of a common gaming house. All the accused were bailed out and came before the Court this morning. The cases'were adjourned for a week. At two other establishments word was sent round that the police were “ on the

job,” and as a result there was no one on the premises when the strong men of the law put in an appearance. At the Huranui races on Boxing Day Mr. W. 0. Rutherford’s Myrtle Berry won the Cup and Waitohi Stakes. E. Redmond rodethe winners of four flat events.

The T nwald Racing Club held its annual race meeting oti New Year’s Day in fine weather before a capital attendance. The Tinwald Cup was won by Thunderer ing Bob was second and Cassabianca th id. Thunderer, who started at 6to 4 on, won eas ly. Contest, a five-year-old gelding by Mannlicher—Contention, beat a fair field in the Maiden Plate, First Event being second.

Gold Reel, by Gorton, beat Cassabianca in the Welter Hand cap, Sunset being third.

The raid o nthe bookmakers put a stop’ to betting yesterday, and very few persons appear to be tak'ng any risks today. What litt e money is being invested locally r s being telegraphed away.