Chrirchurch Racing Carnival

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 November 1916, Page 3

Chrirchurch Racing Carnival

At the Canterbury Metropolitan Trot-tin-g Club's -spring meeting held at Ohristchurch yesterday, tiio principal event (the Trotting Cup of 250050v5.) was won by Cathedral Chimes, with Evelyn second and Admiral Wood third. The winner and the third horse Tvero coupled on tho machine. (By Telegraph—Special to The Chronicle). Ohristchurch ,'J'his Day. Trotting Cup Day in the C/hristehurch Carnival -Week will be long remembered. There was perfect weather, but just as the £2500 Trotting Cup was to bo run, nil the horses being on the track, the stewards' stand, a three-storied building, erected and furnished ft a cost of some £9000, broke into flames. There was a delay of quite half an hour in securing the presence of the fire brigade, and in the end the fine building was gutter. The brigade worked well for three hours and saved three other grandstands fi'om destruction. There was a sticking scene as the roof of the stewards' stand feil in, sending showers <if sparks and flarinir debris skywards and seatering red hot corrugated iron sheets like scraps of paper on the breeze. A soct'>>n of the crowdi gazed wonderbound until a cheerful voice enquired: "How now sports? Getting even with things, ell? 'Having your shilling's worth this time?" Eventually the big cup was run off about an hour and a half late. The fire misfortune was reflected in tlio races. Erin's King, sccond favourite in n. field -of .seventeen runners, fell in the second round, bringing down Succeed unci interfei-'iiT w'fch Eccentric ami MandwVie. Emilius. another favourite. broke a hopple, probably as a result of the mixing, and had to be pulled up and Withdrawn, from the course. Cathedral Chimes, a wellfavoured horse, landed the stake from Evelvn, Admiral Wood being third and 'Miuulnrene fouitli. The fourth bowo will start we 1 ! favoured on Tliursdav: he ran with hard luck yesterday. In the break-up near the grandstand three drivers were injured, one hav'iti.g to he removed in an ambulance. Erin's King, after losing his driver, bolted twice round the course and almost brought the cup winner's sulky down after the race, bit Driver Brice wais resourceful and set and liis mount going fast and cleverly steered hiin clear of the diiverless turn-out. At the end of the fourth mile Erin's King had his sulky boarded by a venturesome -bystander, who reined in the exhausted galloper and brought him safely off the course. All in all the meeting was a most exciting one for all concerned. Aboi.it 15,000 people attended.