SPORTING NEWS "HIPPONA" AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 431, 25 December 1889, Page 3

SPORTING NEWS "HIPPONA" AT CHRISTCHURCH.

THE JTEWMAP.KET OF BACING. No turfite who has visited Christchurch and seen its host ot racing establishments will question which province in the colony is entitled to be dubbed the " Newmarket of racing." A sbonelhrow from Riccurton may be seen palatial stables that are not excelled in Australia, and adjacent to each are splendid residences with well- kept surroundings. There is an air of wealth about the place, and it strikes the mind of the Granger at once. The establishments of Messrs R. Mason (Mr Stead's trainer), H Lunn, W. C. Webb, and Mr Horsford are each some couple of miles from the course, but those of Messrs D. OBrien, F. Butler, E. Cufcte, R. Ray, R. Derritt and others are close handy. The most magnificent of the lot is t4 Lonsdale Lodge," belonging to Mr O'Brien. It is a massive stable, built of red brick and only recently erected.

THE BICCARTON RACECOURSE. I have already expressed the opinion tha the Riccarton racecourse is only second to Flemington in its appointments. The circumference of the track may be too great to please many, measuring one mile and a half, but the most chronic grumbler can find no fault with its commodious stands, dining-rooms, stewards' and members' rcoms, etc., ladies' tea rooms, weighing enclosure, numbering and scratching boards, accommodation for jockeys, and the hundred and one things that help to make racing a genuine pleasure. Those who travel by rail have no trouble to reach the <*rand stand enclosure, for the private railway lands passengers at the gate entrance. Riccarton Racecourse is a credit to the Canterbury .Jockey Club.

THE NORDEUFEI/Dl'S. Mo?t interesting to me was looking over the Nordenfeldb two-year olds. Aueklandei'S have been somewhat- disanpointed t.hab some of the Southern purchases were not ?een out in public this eea-on, but it is explained by the youngsters nob coming to hand early enough. Perhaps I may be safe in saying thab up to the b'me of my visit Crackshob is the onlyone who has done more than half- pace work, and everybody speaks highly of him.

j " LON'SDALK LODGE." Excepting Vandal, since destroyed, the occupants of fcho "Lonsdale Lodge '' boxes are two-year-olds. C4atling, by Nordenieldfc — Petroleuse, has developed into a tine upstanding coll. He has a nice rein, well turned barrel and splendid quarters, while equally good looking and well grown is Hazel, the filly by Nordenfeldt oub of Ouida (Hilda's dam) Both young&bers carried a lot of flesh, but their coats bore evidence that they were both in capitolhealth. Another fine young-ter is Aquarius (by Apremont — Waberwitch), who hds been trelded. He possesses great size and power. Town Moor (by St. Leger — Miss Laura), and Freedom (by Captivator — Maid ol Honour) were being exercited on the racecourse, and having their clothing on, I did not ha%e a good opportunity of scanning them. Mr OBrien informed me it was owing to shin soreness they were nofc raced in the spring. Two miles distmce from the stables 0 Brien has a ,farm of over seventy acres in extent, on which is laid down a good plough track. Many strong gallops are performed there away from Che eyes of the tout. Here, disporting- themselves in a paddock, were three yearlings, sired by Tasman. The colt oub of Waterwitch I liked very much. He is marked with a streak down his face, and four white teetv Rubina's filly ia a good-iook-ing yearling, and so is a colt oub of Vanity, by Traducer — Totara mare. The three yearlings are particularly well-grown. Tasman was looking in grand health, and Waterwitch and Rubina each had foals running ab their side aired by the son ot St. Albans. Judging by the look of Tasman's stock, he should get some highclass racehorses.

MR ¥. BUTLER'S STABLES. Afc this establishment, where there is room for 21 hor.-es, I had a look at Orackshob, by Nordenfeldt — Pungawerewere. He is the bi^ge&t two-year-old in Chrisbchurch, and stands fully sixteen hands. The colb has great bone and substance, and magnificent quarters, and if as good as reputed, he will make a grand candidate for n-xb season's Derby?. Thackeray, by Apiemont — Becuy Sharp, is a nice cut ot a bvvo-year-old. He is compacbly made, and stands over a lob of ground, Unfortunately for Mr Bubler, the colb splib one of his teeb before the U. J.C. Spring Meeting, so he has nob been raced From all accounts, he is a j fast one. Bay King, by Uadogan — Corcyra, is a big powerful youngster, bub at the time of my \isib was su tiering from shin soreness. Leinster, a three-year-old colb by Albany oubof Zelica, occupies a box in the stable, but has never been raced, owing to enlarged joints. Marlborough, who has done Mr Butler good service, is under suspicion, and the jumper, Monteagle, had one of hid fore leg? blistered. In an adjacent paddock was located Artillery, who looked in blooming health. He is getting a chance bo distinguish himself this season, a* the son of Muskeb has served Trinket, Adulation, Sophi&try (full sister to First Lord), and Mainboom.

MR, H. LfJNN'S. There i& no more intelligent trainer or bettei cross country rider in New Zealand than Mr H. Lunn. His present stables are of recent erection, and, although not large, most commodious. Lunn has under his care Chain Shot, Merrie England, Ahua, and Count d'Or.«ay. I can safely say there is not a grander-looking horse in the colonies than Chain Shot. He has great size and quality combined, and if all accounts are true he has done some wonderful things on the training tiack. His fere legs were encased in bandages, but whether he will stand a preparation I cannot tay. Alert ie England is the beau Ideal of a Dei by horse, and ibis a thousand pities we have not seen him measuring strides with Tirailleur this season. He is said to have suffered from muscular lameness, but is now sound again. Ahuy, is a woiderful hoise for his inches, in fact he may be described as a pony. He is made, though, on very strong lines, and has great pace.

CHOKEBORE. This is the name of the training establishment presided over by Mr E. Cubts* He is a public trainer, and commands the patronage of some of the most prominent Christchurch owners. There are close on thirty boxe* in the stables, Dudu is an even-made mate, and shows a lot of quality. Cynieca is an Apremont all over. Shfi was not^ seen at her best, due to. the fact that she had been trained for long - distance races in the spring: and had gone "off" at the Dunedin Exhibition Meeting. Among others who occupied boxes in the stable at the time of my visit were Alsace, Pygmalion, Golden Crest, Reprisal, Vendetta, Fiesole, and a gr,»nd-looking two-year-old by the Diuphin out of Sissie, purchased by Cutts in Wanganui. Nest Saturday V X propose' to deal with Yaldhurst, and the Middle Park and Kussley breeding establishments,

' ', bits ~of; turf, •vzf^yn'^ The Dunedin, Jockey Club are plaeed!in a peculiar* position? with/ regard* I ; tojjthe, action " foreign " owners have taken over t Mr Dowse's -handicapping.- What the outcome will be is difficult to say. The D.J.C. have had a lot tho worst; of the deal so far, and the seratchings made yesterday mean that" 'the ! Ounedin Cup this year will be completely " spoiled. There are sixteen horses now left in, and this number includes Wolverine (on the sick list), Ixion, Don r ,Csesar. Peablospom, WildraUe, Gipsy Prince^Tamora and Phantom, all of whom have Hffcle to recommend them. The best pet'fofttiers nofc withdrawn are Merrie England, 'Occident, St». James and British Lion. tK ''^'-l&^.J I learn from the South that H THotiipspn, the well-known tra'ner and jockey^lveill fassume che management of the^CnriB<#fiurch Middle Park &tud next Mar.en.* ' rfi: 't"The Dreamer, who won the 'Juvenile Stakes at the Pakuranjra Meetinpf,« v gives promise of fulfilling the favourable'opinion 1 f rmed of him during the winter. " The colb ran very £» reen J but nevertheless once Kean shook him up in the straight he grot hold of his bit, and fought out the finish with Pri^cilla like a tradesman. With rejrard to "Vandal being destroyed, it appears thab \vhile at exercise he threw his boy, and galloping on to che road met with a hack of Mr O'Brien's who had strayed. Tho pa;r came in collision, and fche end of it was that the hack kicked Vandal so badly as to break one of his legs. Mr S. 3. Mercer, a Duuedin sportsman, intends br nging au action against Christchurch Tattersall's, damages being laid at £1,000. The question that is to^beS.'decided is whether Tattersall's has a right to brand as a defaulter a man who is not a member of thab Club.