BLAST FROM THE PAST
CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB: Thursday 24 May 1894
1894 CANTERBURY TROTTING CLUB: WINTER MEETING
The weather accompaniments to the Canterbury Trotting Club's meeting yesterday were all that could be desired, and the expectation of a thoroughly successful gathering was fulfilled to the letter. Indeed, the meeting may be set down as the best trotting reunion held in or about Christchurch, and those present had the satisfaction of witnessing some of the finest exhibitions of trotting that have been seen in New Zealand.
The attendance, if not a record one, was, at all events, nearly as good as at any previous meeting on the Showgrounds. As usual, the management was first class, and happily there was but one trivial protest.
The elimination of Yum Yum from the Addington Plate robbed the race of a little interest. The finish, however, between the mare's stable companion and Miss Poole was very exciting, for after the latter had caught and passed Ike in the straight, the gelding came again and gained the verdict by a little more than a head.
The stallion race too was robbed of some excitement by the refusal of Kentucky to leave the mark, and his rival was well ahead before Farrar got his horse going. It was found, however, that Imperious, who was lacking the condition of the other two, had been under-estimated by the handicappers, and he succeeded in keeping in front to the end, winning from Specification by three and a half seconds.
The latter made ample amends by securing the three-mile-race, covering the distance in 7min 35 1/2sec, which reduces by a big lump all New Zealand records for the distance. Keith and his horse were loudly cheered on coming up the straight.
Another record was established when the great Yum Yum came out in the Electric Stakes, and cutting down her opponents very easily, ran over the mile in 2min 27 1/2sec. The track was in splendid order, as may be supposed, for the making of fast times.
During the day the sum of £2856 was passed through the totalisators, being the largest sum handled at a winter meeting.
Following are details:-
MAIDEN HANDICAP (in saddle) of 30 sovs; second 5 sovs from stake. Two miles.
Mr T Dixon's b g Bunthorne by Victor-Albany mare, 3yrs, 20sec (Owner) 1.
Mr G Warburton's b g Mallow, aged, 6sec (Owner) 2.
Mr M Friedlander's b m Rosewood, aged, scr (C Kerr) 3.
Virginia 6sec, Autonomy 14sec, Wee Ben 16sec, Killone 17sec, Shooting Star 18sec, Lady Ethel 18sec, Evina 18sec, Dolly 20sec, Vagary 20sec, Ruby 20sec and Blackheath 20sec also started.
Vagary, the favourite, left his mark badly, and before rounding the first turn was some lengths behind Bunthorne and Ruby, but joining the latter before the end of the first round led, Bunthorne breaking repeatedly falling back. Vagary and Ruby broke alternately, and Bunthorne settling down caught the pair in the third round. Ruby then dropped back, and Mallow ran into second place, but was unable to reach Bunthorne, who won by seven seconds, the rest headed by Rosewood distanced. Time, 5min 55sec. Totalisator, £418 10s. Dividend - £6 16s.
WINTER HANDICAP (in harness) of 45 sovs; second 5 sovs from stake. Two miles.
Mr Mulholland's blk g Hollywood by Young Irvington, 5yrs, 25sec (W Kerr) 1.
Peppermint 10sec, Geordie II 12sec, Virginia 13sec, Bit o' Blue 14sec, Seawood 16sec, Jeanette 24sec and Dingo(late Mountain Lad) 26sec also started.
Hollywood passed Jeanette going down the back, and passing the post the first time held a clear lead. Peppermint being in third place. The latter drew rapidly on the leaders in the second lap, and with a mile gone had made up the best part of her handicap; she, however, broke badly at the top turn on the third round, and Hollywood getting away was not afterwards troubled, winning easily by 100 yards. Time, 5min 59sec. Dividend - £1 14s.
ADDINGTON PLATE HANDICAP of 80 sovs; second 10 sovs and third 5 sovs from the stake. Two miles.
Mr B Edwards's ch g Ike, aged, 94sec (Owner) 1.
Mr M Friedlander's cr m Miss Poole, 5yrs, 27sec (C Kerr) 2.
Mr P Howard's br m Shamrock, aged, 27sec (Hamill) 3.
Hippias 38sec and Doll 38sec also started.
With Ike well in front of Shamrock and Miss Poole the race had narrowed itself down to those three when the first lap had been completed. At the mile post Ike was travelling well within himself in front, the two mares being in company some forty yards away. Just after this Shamrock lost her place through getting in the air. Passing the post the third time Ike was going so well that he seemed to have the race in hand, but Miss Poole steadily drew on him, and as they were rounding the home turn the gelding broke and Miss Poole got in front. Ike, however, coming again, got up on the post, and won by a head and neck. Time, 5min 35sec. Dividend - £2 4s.
FIRST SIRES STAKES HANDICAP (in harness) of 50 sovs; second 10 sovs from stake. Two miles.
Messrs Mangan & Wilson's b h Imperious by Director-Mundane, aged, 20sec (C Kerr) 1.
Mr A J Keith's b h Specification by Contractor-Kate Merry Lark, aged, scr (Owner) 2.
Mr WV Jardin's b h Kentucky, aged, 4sec (Farrar) 3.
Kentucky refused to leave the mark, and when Specification got going Imperious, making the best of his handicap, held a strong lead. At the mile the son of Director had come back very little to the scratch horse, while Kentucky had given up the hopeless stern chase. In the last round Specification closed up on the leader, but in no time endangered his chance, Kerr driving Imperious past the post a winner by ten lengths. Time, 5min 21sec. Dividend - £2 4s.
SELLING HANDICAP (in harness) of 30 sovs. Two miles.
Mr J Dewey's ch g Harlequin, aged, 17sec (Owner) 1.
Mr C Hendrickson's ch g Tommy, aged, 12sec (Owner) 2.
Mr T Walker's br g Energy, aged, 8sec (Owner) 3.
Pride of Erin scr, Seawood 14sec, Meg 15sec, Buckeye 12sec, Te Kooti 17sec, Dingo(late Mountain Lad) 18sec, Beatrice 22sec and Mariner 24sec also started.
Harlequin at once going to the front, was never headed, and won easily. Dividend - £12.
A protest was lodged against the winner for galloping, which was dismissed. Harlequin was bought in for £9.
CANTERBURY STAKES HANDICAP (in harness) of 100 sovs; second 10 sovs from stake. Three miles.
Mr A keith's b h Spesification by Contractor-Kate Merrylark, aged, scr (Owner) 1.
Kentucky 6sec, Opossum 36sec, Olly 36sec, Springfield 40sec, Milly 52sec and Holly 52sec also started.
When a mile had been covered Springfield was in front, while Kentucky and Specification, who had been travelling at a great pace, had drawn very considerably on the leaders. Shortly after passing the mile post Kentucky got in the air, and Specification went passed him. At two miles Springfield was the only one in front of Specification, who got to the front at the turn out of the straight commencing the last lap, and going on finished alone. Time, 7min 35 1/2sec. Dividend - £3 6s.
ELECTRIC HANDICAP (in saddle) of 50 sovs; second 5 sovs and third 3 sovs from the stake. One mile.
Mr C E Abbott's b m Yum Yum by Childe Harold, aged, scr (B Edwards) 1.
Mr E M Stackwood's blk m Black Angel, 6yrs, 28sec (Owner) 2.
Commotion 11sec, Fairchild 15sec, Mallow 17sec, Kelpie 17sec, Gipsy's Warning 18sec, Darkie 18sec, The Frog 20sec also started.
Yum Yum caught The Frog at the bottom turn on the last round, and won, pulling up, by fifteen lengths. Time, 2min 27 1/2sec. Dividend - £2 8s.
PONY SADDLE HANDICAP 0f 25 sovs. Two miles.
Mr J Jardin's br f Doris, 3yrs, 20sec (Owner) 1.
Black Oats scr, Kissing up 34sec, Paddy 34sec, Iris 36sec, Jean 42sec and Vera 42sec also started.
Doris passed with the lead at a mile, and going on distanced all others. Time, 5min 52sec. Dividend - £8.
Credit: The Press 25May1894
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