HINTS ON STARTING, &c.

Dunstan Times, Issue 507, 5 January 1872, Page 5 (Supplement)

HINTS ON STARTING, &c.

Some dissatisfaction was freely expressed at tbe many false starts made at the late Dunstan Kaces. Exception has also been taken to the duty of starting having been deputed, on the second day to threeindividuals, instead of being performed by the gentleman advertised to officiate as starter. For this no doubt good and sufficient reasons could be given. The following remarks, by a sporting correspondent of the Australasian, gives some useful hints:—Sir, —As no doubt Tha Australasian meets tbe eye of more members of the V.it.O. than any other paper, will you permit me to call attention to one or two matters which appear to require alteration, first, with reference to "the manner in which the starting of horses is managed I cannot help thinking owners of racehorses, and especially of young ones, would frequently be spared the disappointment and mortification of seeing their chance lost by a bad start jf a different system was adopted. Looking at the rules for starting, I see that rule 42 of the English racing laws —"Power of the Starter"—has been partially adopted by the Y.It.C , omitting, however, the latter portion of it, viz,:— "The starter ispvohibited from making a running start; the horses must walk up and be started from a walk and if the starter from negligence or iuattention allowed a start to take place on the wrong side of the starting-post, he shall be fined a sum of money not exceeding 501, and the race shall be declared null and void.'"' Why this portion of the English rule was not adopted I know not —the starting of horse*, and especially of young ones, for iJiort races from a standstill at the .post, will seldom, if ever, succeed in producing an even start, whereas, when in the act of walking, they can bo started together. The starter has power to take them back and walk them toward;) the starting-post as many times as he likes until they will come quietly together, and it only wants an example or two made by fining jockeys who attempt to take au unfair advantage, and they would very soon learn to walk their horses quietly towards the starting-post. And here I may remark that it is not an unusual thing for horses to be started in England a tew yards before reaching the post, the starter taking the opportunity when it offers of giving all an equal chance. From my own observations of starting fields of young highcouraged horses in the old country, I am well convinced that Admiral Rous is right. He says:—"The starter should be allowed an assistant, stationed about a furlong from the start-ing-post with a flag, which he is instructed to drop by signal or keep elevated in the event of the starter signalising to him that it is a false start. If there should be a large field of horse*, or any anticipated difficulty in getting the horses well off, the starter should form his line about one hundred yards behind the starting post, and walk them up, which will .facilitate a start on fair terms." The advantage of the assistant-starter's fi.r (which should be held aloft in the iniulle of the course until the startar's own lag drop*) i» very great, as the bo told to keep their eyes, on thatVand start when they see it (hop. b<\- the purpose of correctly timing the assistant starter's flag is iudispmsable : for, when the start takes plaie syiy, distance away from the stand, ic is impossible to take the time correctly without it. This matter of starting is of so much importance that every true hearted man must feel sorry for an owner when bis colt or filly is thrown out of all chance of winning the race by a bad start.