CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1374, 24 August 1916, Page 12

CANTERBURY.

Exodus of Visiting Horses from Riccarton—Leading Horseman Fined — New York Changes Hands —Idealism’s Disappointing Form —Notes on the C.J.C. Meeting—Otupai Suffering From Lameness —Queen’s Post Succumbs to Fall—Critic Purchased by Mr. F. Armstrong—Heavy Speculation for National Week. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. Several North Island trainers did not wait for the concluding day of the Grand National meeting, and took their charges North on Friday and Saturday. Others will follow every day this week, by the end of which Riccarton will be free of visiting horses. A complaint was lodged with the stewards of the Canterbury Jockey Club that J. O’Shea had broken his engagement to ride the Hon. MacDonald’s horses at Riccarton. As the result of investigations it was decided to fine O’Shea £lO, and suspend him lor Saturday’s racing. On Friday last Mr. J. Bull sold his ’chaser New York to a South Canterbury sportsman, Mr. Carlisle Studholme. The gelding ran in its new owner’s interest in the Lincom Steeplechase on Saturday, but though he completed the course he was a long way back at the finish. The most disappointing ’chaser seen out at Riccarton was idealism, who before the meeting was in the boom as a coming champion. He got round the course on the first and second days, but nis jumping was of such an erratic nature as to leave him very tired at the finish. On Saturday ne ieil over Queen’s Post when she came to gnei at Cutts’ fence. 'The concluding race at Riccarton on Saturday, the Seiv.yn Handicap, was tae best betting event of the meeting, no less than £10,209 being pooled on its result. War Tax eclipsed an former i ecorus at the fixture by Le.ng entrusted with well over £2OOO, whne Yes, Derby Day and Encore each had over a thousand against tneir names. After Yes and War Tax had nattered their supporters, Encore cut them ootn down m great style and secured the veidict by half a length. neiore going out to contest the Aylesbury Steeplechase on Saturday Otupai was decidedly it me, and it was this that brought about his fall at the stand double.

As tne result of considerable bumping soon after the start of the August Handicap on Thursday an inquiry was .'instigated, and on Saturday J. Miller, rider of Derby Day, was cautioned by the stipendiary stewards.

, As usual the big brush fence known as “Cutts’ ” claimed heavy toll in the cross-country events at last week’s meeting. it was this obstacle that brought about Queen Post’s downfall in the Grand National and also in the Lincoln Steeplechase. In the latter event the daughter of King’s Guest landed on her head, and died in a few seconds as the result of a broken neck.

Before winning the Aylesbury Steeplechase on Saturday the Lethe gelding Critic was purchased by Mr. F. Armstrong. He ran in the interest of his owner, Mr. C. E. Brewer. When trained at Riccarton Varnish was so unsound that it was impossible to get a race out of him, though he was credited with a fair amount of pace in his track werk. For some -months past he has been casually trained by his owner, Mr. W. A. Nicolls, who has had the pleasure of seeing the Varco gelding successful in each of his last three efforts. Division of spoils as between Northern and Southern owners was more equal than is usually the case at a Grand National meeting. Each of the three big cross-country events went to Northerners, but Art retained the most important hurdle lace for the South. Altogether 13 races went to the credit of Northern stables, as against 11 secured by the South. Speculation was particularly heavy at both Riccarton and Addington last week, despite the extra, taxation now imposed. During the three days at Riccarton the mammoth sum of £138,959 went through the machine, while at Addington the total reached £107,483. This makes £264,442 for National week, as against £231,481 in 1915.