THE MOVING START.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 54

THE MOVING START.

" Among owners and trainers of racehorses there is at present, no little difference of opinion In regard to how horses should fee started — from the stand or walkup," wiiies the Winning Post. "It is obvious which is fhe easier to the starter, as" all depends on the jockeys 'dressingfor tbe ' inanimate ' start, whereas to walk (he field up and raise the tapes instanta- . neouely when tae homes are in line k an J accomplishment on the part oi the starter. ! To succeed in- this the starter must be a. ' man of character and resolve, have full command over the- jockeys, and be granted powers and be permitted" to use his discretion in a manner which does not stultify him. To engage a man to start a field of horse 1 ; foi an important race is to say he is trusted, and. if so, then he should be the master of his end of the race as freely :as the judge is of the other end of it. A judge's verdict cannot be upset providing \ the rulea of reefng are not infringed A ' starter is as all-important us a judge. Then [ why has one a free hand^which cannot be appealed against', while the other is tied down v.ith red tape as though some mario- . nette was expected to pull the lever ! Six months ago we addressed a letter to almost ever/ recoginised starter in the world where the gate obtains. We readily admit that 75 pe-* cent, of the starters favour the standstill start. Almost without exception tha standing start is the rule in all countries, \ yet 25 per cent, of the starters have had the courage to express themselves as adverse to this method. The Johannesburg starter strongly advocates the walk-up start, and states that in South Africa they have abolished the old Australian pattern of starting machine in favour of one which *a quick, noiseless, never Rets out of order, and has the advantage that the tapes fly over the horses' heads, not from them, so quickly that they are hardly discernible. 1 Another prominent official is all against a moving start, and declares that 'a walk-up | ststsH; wonU cause on<Hles3 -fepoTlbl^ l>£bct starts. Horses 'that would not join the field when" walking up would cause wellbehoved ones to be constantly turning round.' This may be right, but equally so ;it may be wrong. As things' etand, it is a | mere matter of guesswork, for the walk-up ! start has never been tried, and- it is possible that the opinions of some starters in this respeef are as valueless as those of some jockeys when expressed in connection with the running of a race. It is still more probable that, firstly, the official does not ue&ire to. oppose the views of the rulers of the turf ; and, secondly, the success of the standstill start rests rather with the horse and jockey than the puller of the lever. That the moving start ig doomed 1 to failure if it is given a chance is a sweeping verdict, and one we are in a position to oppose, and we can demonstrate thai a real good start can be quietly and fairly accomplished under these circumstances." -