EXAMPLE SET THEM

NZ Truth, Issue 1213, 28 February 1929, Page 13

EXAMPLE SET THEM

"OLD MAN" KNOWS HOW

Yet Many Think They Can

Do It Better

The younger generation of starters is like the younger generation of anything else — they know a better way to do the job m hand than did their predecessors.

IN New Zealand Charles O'Connor has no peer as an official at the starting gate, and his work is ever high class. Of course, he has made his errors, but they have been so few and far between as to be infinitesimal. He sets a main that may be hard to reach, but surely it is not hard to follow. But, somehow or other, starters m various parts of the country will try out methods of their own. To follow on the lines laid down by O'Connor would, to them, be imitation, and imitation is flattery. But the more they try methods of their own, the more the public are grateful for O'Connor, "the heavensent starter," as one Sydney visitor described him. The "Old Man," as he is called outside of earshot, demands that horses be flat-footed on the mark before the barrier lifts. Riders can back and fill as much as they like — or as much as they dare — but till they get m line the webbing will not shoot skywards. How different with many of the pther .starters attempting to make a success of the game. " :.■;:•' One time they are sent away to a i '

flying start; the next time the barrier will be ''snapped, and, then again, they are more or less flat-footed. These methods m double-quick time find Mr. Confusion m charge. Jockeys, not knowing- what is coming next, get "on their toes," and not possessing any confidence m the official start to make a monkey of him. Jack Vincent has been with O'Connor so long that he has copied his methods to the last detail. Like Charles, Vincent believes m getting the confidence of riders. Once that is obtained everything is easy. What O'Connor has accomplished is not the impossible. Others can do the same if they will- only allow common sense to rule. The discontent m starting up north was brought to a head at Te Aroha, and many trainers signified their intention of not going to Paeroa if a change was not made m the official at the barrier. f The change \ has been made. Early m the week Jack Vincent received word that he had been appointed to the position m lieu of the official appointed earlier m the season. The new starter will satisfy all the racing crowd.