CANTERBURY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 160, 5 February 1864, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

SPORTING ITEMS. Tee following well-known race-horses were dis' posed of on Saturday last, at the following prices

—Lady Bird (bought in) £9OO ; Victor Lee, (purchased by Mr. Money) £180; Golden Cloud, (purchased by Mr. Redwood) £450 ; The Peer, (purchased by Mr. Shand) £875. CHAMPION RACE MEETING, 1865. Thanks to the liberal subscriptions already received, a Champion Race Meeting is almost a certainty. Already about £1,200 has been subscribed, and it only remains with the public to say whether the meeting shall be held. If they so decide, another £I,OOO must be forthcoming, and of this we think there can be little doubt. That Canterbury will derive considerable kclat from ao entcrrprising an undertaking there can be no dispute. Already the Province boasts the best courseand tho beat stand. It only '.remains to do our best to ensure the best in the colony. The programme published below has been drawn up in anticipation of the funds being forthcoming, and will be submitted to the Jockey Club for revision. It will be most likely passed as it stands, having been submitted to the inspection of several of the principal racing men of the adjacent provinces, now present in Canterbury, who have been pleased to express their decided approval. All that the Jockey Club will have to do will be to decide upon the weights and penalties. The general opinion seems to be that the programme is most liberal, and is likely to draw very large fields from the Australian colonies. One point is deserving of attention, and, as we think, of commendation.

It will be observed that instead of, as has been the custom, making the grand race on the middle day, the champion will be run on the first day of the meeting. This will prevent the best horses being kept back, and by the system ot weights and penalties will necessitate their being brought together again on the two following days ; and thus insure a splendid three days’ racing. There is, we believe, a general feeling of disappointment because it is believed that Canterbury has no horses likely to run for these great prizes. We would remind the public that a year will elapse before the races can come off, and besides our young stock we ?:ave many racing men in the province with ample means, who will doubtless come forward to uphold the honor of Canterbury. Programme of Champion meeting to he field at Christchurch in January , 1865. first day. Maiden Stakes of £IOO, added to £6 sweepstakes, hf. li miles ; weight for age. Lottery Plate of £SO, added to a £5 sweepstakes, J-mile heats ; weight for age. Champion Stakes of £I,OOO, added to a sweepstakes of £SO each, hf. 3 miles ; weight for age. Criterion Stakes of £SO, added to a sweepstakes of £5 each ; weight for age. 1 mile. Sack Pace. SECOND DAY. Serly Stakes, of £7OO, added to a sweepstakes of £lO each, hf. 1£ miles ; 3yrs. old, Bst. lOlbs. 10 subscribers (closed) Canterbury Cup, £3OO. 2 miles ; weight for age, with penalties. Entrance, £ls. Metropolitan Sandicap, of £IOO. 1 mile ; entrance £5. Tyro Stakes of £SO, added to a sweepstakes of £5 each, li miles ; weight for ago. Penalties. THIRD DAY. Queen's Plate, of £IOO. 3 miles ; £5 entrance. Weight for age. C. J. C. Sandicap, of £2OO. 1$ miles; entrance, £lO. Pailway Stakes, of £IOO, added to a sweepstakes of £lO each. J-mile. Weight for age. Penalties. Forced Sandicap. 1 mile. Consolation Stakes, of £SO, added to a sweepstakes of £5 each. Handicap. 1 mile. —Lyttelton Times, Jan. 26.