THE CANTERBURY METROPOLITAN MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5813, 15 November 1879, Page 3

THE CANTERBURY METROPOLITAN MEETING.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Chui Tcuuncrr, Friday. The weather for the third day’s racing wa? anything but inviting, n? showers of rain fell at short intervals, and prevented anything like an attendance. This was to be r-gretted, as from the liberal bill of fare provided by the C..T.C , a go >d day’s sport was anticipated. The Christchurch Plate was the first event, and for this Mr. Ray’s second string, Hornby, was an absentee, having been scratched in the earlier part of the day, after the Cup race. This was look-d miira as a good thing for Mr. Griffiths' colt, as the only opponents he had to meet were Templeton and Grand Duchess. The result proved that the old horse was too much for his juvenile opponents, as he led the whole race, and won comfortably by two lengths, Mr. Walters’ aristocratic-looking filly second, and Betrayer third, four lengths off. CHRISTCHURCH PLATE. Of 150 sovs fuMed to a swenn of 5 sovs. each ; second horse to save hi* stakes. Kntranoc 5 sovs., to go to the fund. Onco round and -i distance. Vfr. Tl. n-iv’n aged, fht 71b, (R. Hay) .. 1 NTr Wi-.lt-r’s brmid Duchess. :’.yrs, Hsfc Slh .. .. 2 Mr K. OriliUh’* hr c notraye-, 7st lllb (T. Clark) 3 Betting : Even money on Templeton ; 5 to 1 against" Grand Duchess ; 5 to 3 against Betrayer. The lot were got off on a fair start, Templeton being first anil Grand Duchess, who was hard held, coming second, and Betraver, who got off badly, tnird. In this order they passed the stand, Grand Duchess and Templeton passing Redwood’s, making the pace a clinker, Betrayer still in the rear. At Ford’s, Betrayer went up to Grand Duchess, but could not stay with her, and had to fall back. At the turn Grand Duchess got on even terms with Templeton, but died away coming down the straight. It was evident that the Duchess had quite enough of it, as Taylor was ridin" her, while Bob was taking it easy with the old 'mi. Betrayer here made an effort but there was nothing in it, and he had to content himself with third place, Templeton beating the Duchess easily by two lengths. '! ime, 3rnin. 4^'cc. Fur the Publicans' Steeplechase there were only five entries. The Agent and Little John wore most fancied, whilst Robin- Hood had a following. Little John justified his backers’ good opinion by winning tbe race from The Agent bv a couple of lengths. Silver-stream, who was well in for a great part of the race, was thrown out of it by his jockey falling at tin; hurdles near the fords. PUBLICANS’ STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP, Of "a sovs.. arl liel to a k-.vcom of sovs. for acceptors ; second horse to save his stake. About 2 miles; over sm-li count'y as the stewards may direct, Mr. D. O’Brien’s Little John, syrs, 10st (Osborne) I Mr. P. Butler’s Te Whetu, aged, list 71bs (A. LyMr" r Agent. Gyrs, list 71bs (Steward) .. 3 Betting: 2 to 1 against The Agent ; 2 to 1 against Te Whetu ; 4 to I against Little .John ; 5 to 1 against Silverstreara ; 3 to 1 Robin Hood. A capital start was effected. Silverstreani taking the lead over the first hurdle, followed by Agent, Te Whetu, Little John. Robin Hood baulked, aud went round the hurdle. Opposite the stand the horses crossed the timber in the same order, Silver-stream appearing full of going, and Little John pulling double. At Redwood’s hurdle Silverstreara still led, with Little John second, Agent and Te Whetu in the next division. ’At the jump before the double Little John took charge, and Silverstream threw his rider, and though he was mounted (quickly, his chance in the race was gone To Whetu and Agent now came up, the latter waiting on the former, and went in this order to the turn, the two being close up. The last hurdle but one was taken by Little John in lead, with Te Whetu and Agent bearing close up. Coming up the straight Te Whetu tried conclusions with Little John, but tbs latter had most foot, and won by two lengths.

METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, Of 100 sovs., arldei? to ft sweep of [> sovs. each for acceptors: second horse to save his stake. Entrance, 3 sovs., to cro to flic fund. Mr, Mullock's Foul Play, 3 yrs (Derritt) .. .. 1 Mr. Hftv’s Hornby. 3yrs, Sit 6lb (Mftttiel .. ~2 Mr. Walter’s Libeller. 3yrs, 7st. 11b (Nolan) .. 3 Seven started. The start being opposite the stand there was a great difficulty in getting the horsesn.il together; Soukar played up considerably, and when the flag fell to a very indifferent start, of which Libeller had all tho best, Soukar was turning round to come up. Libeller cut out the running, with Hornby close up, York, pulling double, third ; Foul Play lying fourth. In this order they ran until Ford's wa? reached, when Atlantic came up, but was soon compelled to retire. At the turn into the straight Hornby deprived Libeller of the lead, Foul Play, who was admirably ridden by Derret, coming in third place. As they came up the straight the quartette, Libeller,' Hornby, Foul Play, and York were all in it. At the distance Hornby and Foul Play came out from the rest, and a grand set-to ensued to the post, Mallook’s colt ultimately winning by a short half length, Libeller a good 2nd, the rest in a cluster. Time : 2min. 45seo. SELLING RACE, Of 50 sots, added to a sweep of 5 sovs each ; weight for age. Messrs Mason and Vallance’s Sinking Fund (£100), 7stlolb I Mr Walters’Billingsgate, 3yrs, (£400). 7st fllb .. 2 Mr J. W. Mallock’s bf On Dit, 3yrs (£300) .. 3