THE RACE MEETING OF 1859.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 660, 5 March 1859, Page 6

THE RACE MEETING OF 1859.

To the J3.diter.bf the LyUdtpu. Times'/..-

M it.* E BlTOlii^Tfie' Canterbury, race, •tneetm^ is vpluse at hand, and judging; innv the extensive :pre3>:ir;i.tkw tkat ifi b'-:itii? miule r we have, evwy ren«o» to pxpwit a l»ij<li' Rportitifjf treat.- i'oi- ;hr addition In tilt' HUDJmiKs.CHiiicrbvivy liors<?s that are certain In come to the /crate!), .we h:ive been•"favored -hy the arrival of several .visitors from' tive older racing studs of our Wellington (Vieads, who at" no trifling expense have determined to try the v^l.uo.'oC our Canterbury blood upon our awn ground. Thlsh a

practical compliment which cannot be too highly appreciated. Being a keen lover of sport I have ti>ke« pains t<> make myself acquainted with the competing 'stables, and am bound to Bay (hat the several trainers .are doing all they' know to bring their cattle out in fit style. No past meeting ever called out so many good nags, or induced the importation of so many really good grooms. Now racingl, sir, is, in my opinion, a very useful institution. In a young colony, not ■■nearly stocked with horses, familiarity with all the points and excellencies of the first-class horse is highly essential to success in breeding. And horse racing—-due regard beinsj had to training, weighting and distance —is the highest test of excellence in the thoroughbred. Other classeo of horses may be tried by competition for prizes «t agricultural shows, which arc, I regret to say, sadly too infrequent in Canterbury, But, sir, I will not jump off into a dissertation on breeding, but confine myself to a word or two about°the animals that are likely to gallop at the coming meeting.

The -veterans, Auckland Jack and Tamerlane, together with Alma, Sultan, Hector Norman and Annie Laurie, are all mentioned as "pretty certain to start for the Queen'a Guineas, for which they will have to contend with our Wellington friends, Betty Martin, Gipsy and Scrip, thus making a probable field of nine.

The previous performances of nearly every one justifies his trainer's hope for a good place, and the public in expecting a .very close race. I can report that old Jack looks better in all points than he did-last year, his pet'leg promising to stand all right. Sultan, notwithstanding his embonpoint, looks very dangerous, so much-so that I shall not risk my annual new hat U] ion the chance of his being far in the rear. Hector Norman is in slapping condition, and must not be trifled with, for he .evidently intends coining out fit: to do his best. Alma's reappearance on the turf, after a long holiday, is likely to do credit to his spirited owner's training. Poor old Tamerlane looks uncommonly happy in his blankets, • but not at all like mischief. The Wellington cattle, however, are the lot among whom it is said will fall the honor of victory, Gipsy ie a big powerful mare, and although showing evident cross breeding, and in somewhat husky condition, is not to be, slighted; while Old Scrip, so far as general, condition goes, is " as fit as fire;" yet an accident to one of his fore legs very materially affects his chance of finishing number one. .1 shall have another look at him before I place him. Betty, who has changed stables since her arrival, is without doubt the most like 'winning, so far as x>ne may judge by looks, but her notorious fancy for bolting leaves her 'an outsider in the betting. The chances are about five vto one that she bolts, which is equivalent to losing "the guineas. If she runs true it is about even betting that she wins.

'The thing is so. nicely. balanced between Scrip, Sultan, Gipsy, and Alma, that I shall decline naming the leader—baning his leg I fancy-Scrip. Jack :is sure to be somewhere well up;—while Annie "Laurie, Hector Norman, and Tamerlane, will do their work in a ruck to themselves. Tamerlane will be last.(if he starts) and Betty Martin first or-nowhere.

The Maiden Plate, it "is said, will be the prize of St. Giles, and Mr. Thompson's Shadow is to be last; however, my judgment differs somewhat from the general conclusion, and I prophesy that^ although ~not first, yet the mare willcast her shadow before some of her competitors. Mr. Mallock's best colt, the Bedlamite, is. all wrong..; the. Jester cannot seriously mean winning; and I suspect it will be only a very greemhand.who will back the Emerald. Captain Yorke will be wanted at the finish, being just then probably engaged with Schamyl in a struggle for the last place. „

As the entries are not out for any race excepting the Maiden plate", it would be idle to attempt penetrating the strategy of the various cunning sportsmen who own dark horses; for instance who can tell in what form " Eetribution" will resent liis unknown wrongs, or in which set will the " Polka" be exhibited. But, sir, one thing we can tell, which is, that it is our duty to be exceedingly courteous to the enterprising strangers on our turf, and that we ought by liberal and prompt contributions to the racing fund of this year, to encourage the Canterbury Jockey Club to continue for future meetings the tempting programme they now lay before the public.

To conclude, sir, I would just observe that there is one particular section of the community whom I would especially remind of their particular obligation to the Canterbury turf. It is true that the farmer and saddler feel the usefulness of horseracing:; but it is the licensed victuallers who reap the greatest harvest; and in common justice it is the licensed victuallers who ought to pay out of their abundant profits a liberal subsidy each year to the racing fund. I hope sir, that this hint will be kindly taken, And am, sir, Yours to command,

WBINKLES