The Race for the Canterbury Cup. Great Excitement at Nelson's Defeat. Artillery's Rider and Owner Carried Shoulder High.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 179, 20 November 1886, Page 3

The Race for the Canterbury Cup. Great Excitement at Nelson's Defeat. Artillery's Rider and Owner Carried Shoulder High.

The Canterbury Cut, a sweepstake of 20 eovs each, with 500sovb added ; second hors.i to receive lOOaovs, the third liorse 5030v5, out of the stake. Weight for age. Two miles and a quarter. Mr P Butler's b c Artillery, by Musket- Ouida, 3yr», 7st 61b (Williams)... 1 Major George'a eh h Nelson, by King Co'e— My Idea, 6yrs, Oat 61b (Brown) 2 Disowned was scratched, leaving only the two starters. Betting : 2to 1 on Nelson. The pair got away well together without any trouble, but Artillery, who had the infiide running.immediately went to the front, and at the stand, when three-quarters of a mile was covered, he was two lengths to the pood. Passing Cutta 5 8,however,the favourite .had ranged up alongside of him, and the pair ran stride for stride for another six furlongs, when Artillory began to draw away again, and at the mile and ahalf post he was clear of the big horse. This was at first looked on as an expiring effort, but as the gap widened between the pair, it began to dawn on the spectators that a great surprise might be in store. Round the turn for home, both horsea were being ridden hard, but Artillery ■was fully four lengths. to the good, and answering his rider's call with the utmost gameness, he kept Nelson off all up the straight, and won by two lengths, Time, 4min lOsec. Dividends : Inside, £5 16s Gd ; outside, £4 63. It ie impossible to adequately .describe the scene during the latter part of <tbe race. People were fairly wild with excitement, and shrieked , out " Artillery ! Artillery !" at the top of their voices, there -being one continued run of, cheering till after the horees weighed in. Then they burst oub again, and Artillery's owner and rider carried shoulder high out of the saddling paddock.