Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-21
The Start and the Finish.

The two most exciting features Of a
race, are the two ends--the start and the
finish. All the interest seems to center
iu the giving of the word ''go," as the
coming under the wire at the end Of the
home stretch. Between these two points
in a race there are some breaks, generally
change of position with the horses, some
times little ''yelling" on the part of
drivers, all of which help make up the
incidents of the heat; but spectators care
more for the way the horses get started
and how they place their noses under the
wire as the judges stand on guard, timer
in hand. 1t is often the case, however,
that the interest in the start is more than
half destroyed by the discouraging, tire
some, needless SCORING" which ex-
hausts the horses, annoys the drivers,
and wearies the spectators. Everybody
gets completely tired out by it, and it
sometimes appears that drivers do it
almost wholly with this object in view.
How often is race carried over to the
second day, and the interest of 1t destroyed
when, had less time been spent at the
start in unnecessary scoring itmight have
been finished the day it began and every
body satisfied.
The rules Of the National Trotting
Association are very strict in regard to
scoring, and expressly say that no driver
shall cause unnecessary delay after the
horses are called up; and in scoring, where
the word is not given, Gall the horses
in the race shall Immediately at the tap of
the bell, jog back for forth start"
The Intention of the rule is that the next
time down shall be genuine start-but
how frequently does it occur that six,
eight and often more scores are made be-
fore the word is given. One turf journal.
at least, has had the courage to idenounce
unnecessary scoring, the Boston Spirit,
saying in recent number: ''fhere is one
fault common to most courses which
ought to be arrested. 1t Ia the needless
scoring. for which there is no excuse.
People get disguised with the whole af-
fair when it becomes the rule, and stay
away. Now let's have the trotting begin on
time, and the scoring short" Everybody
will unite with this sensible plea, and
trust it may be observed by judges of all
races this season.
More important than the start is the
finish, for it determines the time, standing,
reputation and value of the contending
horses. The National rules are full and
explicit on the duties of judges and on
the awarding of time. Rule 43 declares
that "a record can be made only in pub
lie race, the horse to trot a full mile ac-
cOrding to rule, and the time must be
taken by at least two timers selected for
the purpose, and the record of their
Games, as well as the time
must be kept" A record of all races
trotted according to National rules, must
be kept, which among other details must
conta.l ''the official time of each heat,
and, at the end, an official summary of
the race, giving the drawn, distanced, and
ruled-out horses, if any there be-" In
all cases this book must be signed by the
Judges and constitutes the ''official record
of the race. Time made on any track, at
any fair or exhibition, for mile or half
mile, and on short track or otherwise,
shall be regarded as bar,