CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 949, 14 May 1908, Page 6

CANTERBURY.

The New Zealand Cup conditions are the same as last year. Nominations close on June 2. Sir Geo. Clifford and F. H. Pyne will represent the C.J.C. at the Racing Conference. The programme committee of the C.J.C. has increased the stakes for the hack events at the Grand National Meeting, and also added £5O stakes in the Lincoln and Beaufort Steeplechase and Sydenham Hurdles. The Final Hurdles has been struck off the programme and a Hack Flat Handicap substituted.

Excellent acceptances have been received for the first day’s events at the Ashburton Club’s Autumn Meeting. The Cup bears a very open aspect, thirteen horses being still in. Kelp, a five-year-old gelding by Castashore, and winner of some recent flat handicaps, is the latest addition to the hurd.ing brigade in these parts. I notice that Glen and Glentui, two ge dings by the Clanranald horse Glenogle, were winners at the Marlborough meeting. Mr. G. G. Stead left £170,000, the bulk of which will be divided ■ among the family, three sons and a daughter receiving £44,000 apiece. “Strowan” has been left to Mrs. Stead, who also received £l5OO a year. Mr. G. L. Stead, of Kereru, Hastings, will transact all business in connection with the stud, and also receive notice of forfeits due by the Yaldhurst horses. Mr. W. G. Stead is now on his way out from England. The stake money to be given at the Grand National meeting amounts to £5640, an increase of £270 on last year’s amount. At the Orari Club’s meeting last week, the principal race was won by Roscommon, a horse who has been winning all along the line at nontotalisator meetings. He will be flying at higher game to-day, having accepted in the Ashburton Cup, in which he has 6.10. Whirlwind, who was once noted for her burst of speed over a short distance, was amongst the starters at the Orari meeting, when she ran two seconds.

Devonia, who was racing at the same meeting, could only get third out of two starts.

There is very little doing in the jumping line at Riccarton. Eurus and Canton are two regular attendants, and have some jumping allotted them once or twice a week. Eurus is coming on nicely, and will probably race at some of the Northern meetings before the Grand National. Closing time for receiving nominations by the C.J.C. has been altered from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m. In letters to a friend, L. H. Hewitt

speaks in glowing terms of his prospects for the present season in England. At its conclusion he intends coming out to New Zealand for a holiday. Two well-known English jockeys in Dillon and Griggs will come out with him.