CANTERBURY RACES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 271, 17 November 1870, Page 2

CANTERBURY RACES.

We take from the LyHelton Times such extracts relative to the late race meeting as will prove interesting to our Nelson readers : — Very shortly after the appointed hour, 1 p.m., the four competitors for the Maiden Plate appeared on the course, and with the exception of Euvy a very so-so lot they were, and she is capable of being made a stone better by the autumn. Yernon, from being in Webb's stable, was the most fancied, but he ran a moderate horse, and at no part of the race was he in it. Vulcan lost start, and was unable to make up his ground, and we fancy he will never shine except in ordinary com-, pany. Songstress could not stay the distance, as we predicted. Envy is a very nice mare showing much quality, but some thought her too light; she proved far too fast for her opponents, and won very easy in spite of her attempting to serve off the course just at the commencement of the rails. Now for the Cup, for which our old friend Knottingley has been beaten, and easily too, by Mr. Redwood's fine mare. We never expected he would be beaten at, this distance, as we thought he would outlast her; however, she had too much foot for him, and beat him quite as easily as her stable companion, Manuka, did two years ago. Mariner sadly disappointed a select few who fancied him; he is more moderate than we thought him, and he must greatly improve on his running to win the Derby to-day. We are afraid after this race *we shall not see Kuot- , tingley win anything, and that he will not , go over to Tasmania to win, as we fully [ expected to see him. He is not disgraced, s however, by his defeat; and it would be s folly to say so, for, by so doing, we should be taking away all the merit from his yes- , terday's running. For the Free Handicap, , we had the capital field of twelve, and a j splendid race it proved, Lacenfeed just

winning it; but had old Backbiter had bis proper weight be must have won. The mile was done in tbe fastest time ever run on our course, lmin. 48secs., exceeding Golden Cloud's celebrated performance by 3sees. For the Derby, Envy locked tbe best of the four, but some doubted her beicg able to carry Bst slb& and beat Mr. Stafford's colt ; she, however, proved herself able to do so, and we much doubt if the Derby was ever won easier. Some great mistake must have been made about Mariner, for although he ran fust at first fae could not stay. Day Dawn ran fast for the first three quarters of a mile, and then his bolt was shot. Bashaw seemed shinsore, and unable to act on the hard ground ; but we much doubt his ever turning out a racehorse. The winner was greeted with loud cheers. For the C J.C. Handicap we had thegood field of niue, and all, with the exception of Miss King, were considered to have a chance. Knottingley had improved immensely siuce his race with Peeress on Monday, and seemed to go more in his If st year's form; he proved that good horses can give away lumps of weight when they are so, or the field he met was more moderate than was the general opinion. Magenta did not look like liis old self, and we are afraid his day is over. The race was ruu at a strong pace throughout, Wideawake forcing it for his stable companion to some purpose, as for the first ■mile and a-half the Chief could not get away from him, and thus saving Knottingley, who had the lot beaten at ■the distance, and the grand old horse coming away, won very easy. Great dis•gatisfsction was expressed at Peeress being scratched in the morning, and loud were the complaints of her backers. On paper, | the race looked like a gift to her after Monday's performance, as she was receiving Ist 21bs from Knottingley here, while on that day the difference between them was only 51bs. To-day she Las to give Knottingley 21bs, and we much doubt her dong so. It was a pity, at a small meeting like this, that she was allowed to remain in over night, as many of the public who know little of racing matters had invested their few pounds on her, thinking her a certain starter. Mr Kedwood informed us that he had not a -sixpence on the race, neither did he tell any one to back her. The Criterion was a walk-over for XXX, and then we had the large field of ten for the Grand "Stand Handicap, which Lacenfeed won after a good race. Mr. Stafford's success was greeted with great cheering, and we -think Peeress' defeat, after her non-ap-pearance for the C.J.C. Handicap, increased the satisfaction at the success of the green jacket. The time was very -quick, the fastest ever run on our course.