TROTTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 261, 25 January 1928, Page 11

TROTTING

(CONTINUED.) few Starting Machine Tested

X DOMINION PATENT JpffERTS GREATLY IMPRESSED Trotting enthusiasts have for lomo time past been endeavouring t 0 improve on the present system 0 f starting, and the latest device has been hit upon by a Gore resident, and those who have witnessed n « trial of the machine are quite iy optimistic about its possibilities. 5 An invention which should prove of .I Merest to trotting clubs throughout ~ ve* Zealand, patent rights for which , , a vebeen taken out in this country and ", a Australia, was demonstrated at n I jiiverdale. Southland, recently, when. * | under ideal weather conditions and before a large attendance of owners, * trainers, and others interested, the def rice was tested and favourably commented on. The inventor, Mr. Jno. Curry, Riversdale, had spent considerable time and patience in erecting a i working model of the device, and its » uppearance, though somewhat crude r ,rave promise of receiving early vrecogi a ition from the authorities concerned, #3 its capabilities are obvious. i Those present at the demonstration t jncluded such well-known trainers as ! j. McMath. I). Kerr, W. Muir, and J l McCubbin, while Mr. J. B. Thomson, * member of the Trotting Association] a nd Mr. J. E. Cuthill, secretary of the I P f the Invercargill centre, were interested spectators. Moving Platforms The idea underlying the invention broadly speaking. contemplates the provision of moving platforms coupled together {which may be on rails and actuated by any suitable source of' power), the said platforms being spaced at intervals apart, according to handicaps, and opposite to which each horse or horses on that handicap move in line with the moving platforms until, on all the horses being in line, the assistant starters located on each platform indicate to the chief starter that the horses opposite their respective platforms are in starting I position; the starting signal is given from the chief starter and all horses begin at once from their respective positions. Various coloured flags may be used In connection with each platform and by the assistant starters in charge, thereby to identify the positions and avoid risk of confusion. If a horse gets left at the mark it can catch up to its proper platform while same is in motion so as to ensure all starting at ‘the same time at tn£ir respective handicaps. It will be understood that the object is to give all horses a moving start. Scratch is the front horse, the other horses being at intervals of 12yds behind, each 12yds being reclamed as equal to seconds of V ** platforms may travel at m 15 jn.p.h. but this ntay be var„ circumstances direct. A description of the device itself may be given as follows:: j Mechanical Device Erected over the course is a bridge like frame, this being made of any suitable material and preferably livided into six sections. equi-distant, each having its' own platform on which the assistant starters stand and conveniently Watch the horses in their particular section. The frame and platform are mounted on wheels running on nils, having its own distinctive cotanr and flag. The chief starter is located on a stand near the hauling engine, about 200yds down the course, and in a position to see the assistant liaiiers. The horses are arranged ilotgside their respective colours, aoeording to handicaps, and upon the annl being given that the horses are •a position the engine is started and Inis the platforms and framework along by cable at the prescribed peed. The horses move with the frame, keeping abreast of their colour. Any horse msldttg a bad start is able to catch up its section in the interval between the Mart of the apparatus and its arrival lithe postion of the main starter, handicap Position Maintained The apparatus then stops, but a moving start has been given and the correct handicaps maintained by the distances between the sections, thus assuring faster time for the race, and a setter start. Several demonstrations were given during the course of the afternoon and the device, hauled by a motor-car, performed its functions in an impressive manner, a motley assembly of bad starters, w recruits and hacks gettiac away on each occasion to an excellent start. Those who witnessed the proceedings were deeply impressed with the results obtained and predict Hmt more will be heard of it at no distant date. A Useful Pair Joe Edwards has a useful pair of ®quare-gaiters under his . charge in Appeal and Mutu, and both are capahle of tearing off a cheque before the concludes. Appeal has raced jdth commendable consistency since l)ei »g recommissioned last winter, and hi# connections are well on the right mde of the ledger. Mutu is perhaps a aarder prospect. Nevertheless, in his yM starts the old Ghoai gelding throw out a hint that he would soon be *h the money once more. trotting fixtures ?orbur y Park T.C.—Jan. 27, IS. s**s«11 Bay T.C.—Jan. 28. I; c —Jan. 31. Feb. 1. Takaka T.C.— Ftb. 2. Cheviot T.C.—Feb. 4. Otahohn T.C.—Feb. 8. 22. Sf. Metropolitan T.C.— Feb. 11 T.C.—Feb. is. Jubilee—Feb. 25. Jubilee—Feb. 27. T.C—March 2. T.C—March 2. 3. 2“«g T.C— March 3. MMavtatu T.C—March 7. T -C— March 8. 10. * WyndW XC—March 14. * T.C—March 15, 17. hoxei —March 24. Spelled to t, c—March 24. : r «t least , C—March 29, 31. -’or Injun, t Man T.C—April 7, 11. to _ A p r |l 7, 9. _ -April 14 -•AJt" -—April 21. IVilii—- —April 21. * .C—April 28. CsrnKnL Park T.C—May 3, 5. O-SSf^T.C— May 5. OjiS? T-C.—May 19. Aihtim Park T.C.—June 2, 4. T -C-—June 9. lld T.C—June 23. 27. PAU ttRSTON-WELLINGTON ROAD RACE •ite ‘ he big annual road race hialorit?!5 la r ston to Wellington the competitors were using ties aunni mass age to keep their must4ry. U PW *- The A.A.A. hon. secrethis 'ir ouilivan, had ocular proof 4 hle .1 was also found valuaDa tt from .Protective skin emollient 1,1 its tmbrocative use. 3