Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-01-04
PHOTOGRAPH ALL RACES.
J. n. Mccormick Writes of a Needed
Reform In Racing.

Reform In Racing.
The value Of the camera in determining
the correctness Of finishes in races has just
received a striking exemplifcation in the
case # Downs, the runner who claimcd TO
have Seaten the record for 40 yards at
Beacon park last summer. Accompanied
by a number of gentlemen and a photogra-
pher, and with copies OF a photograph
taken at the time Of the run. Mr.. Downs
revisited the track recently. selected the
spot where he should stand. superintended
the measurement Of the track, stretched
the tape across the proper finish line and
agreed 10 the position TO be occupied by
the camera. The result Of the picture
taken under these circumstance proved
TO him cOnclusively that he had not run
the full distance on the day in question.
The lesson thus taught should not be lost
or race track Managers. A equine con
tests are now Judged il j. a matter Of i'm
possibility almost 20 say that in nose and
nose finishes the winning horse really gets
the verdict six times in ten. Ordinarily
there are two judges in the stand. The
presiding judge is supposed 10 stand in
such a position that his right eye covers an
imaginary line running between the finish
post on the stand and a black mark direct
IL opposite. From this coign Of vantage
be places the winner ans second horse.
The other judge places the third horse.
In many cases even the spectators in the
stand behind the judges are not on the
same line OF vision with them, and conse-
quently they do not see the end Of the race
as the judges do. When, TOO. As is often
the case. the presiding judge Is a man ad-
vanced in years. who cannot read a news
paper without the aid Of glasses. it would
De saying too much TO declare that he al
ways judges a finish accurately. Sucl 4
conclusion j. beyond the range Of posi-
bility.
The race track OF the future should in
clude among it, officials a thoroughly com
petent staff Of photographers. who should
be supplied with every facility for photo
graphing the finishes, starts and important
intermediate points Of ca race. Given
proper facilities, a negative Of any portion
Of a race can be developed so as t. be intel
hgible iu three minute That i but a
short time TO wait. and with such an aid
judges would always b5 able 10 give a per
fectly accurate decision in every race.
Starts should he photographed for the
reason that AT present the starter j. usually
the sole judge Of the matter. Il all the
starts were photographed, including the
b~reakaway-. the plates would show not
only whether the starts were cool ones,
DHt would ALI wonderfully ia trliluG
whether or not jockeys were trying 20 take
undue advantage. or whether they were
"m%onkeying' with their mounts for stra-
tegical or less laudable purposes. Pho
~tographiug the intermediate critical point
Of a race would aid greatly in telling
whether or not jockeys rode true OF
crooked. \ jockey who knew that the in
~corruptible eye Of a camera was on him
five times in a mile race would feel very
much disiuclined 10 ~purposely m-ismanage
his mount.
The starter, too, would know that his
unsupported would no longer
be taken a. gospel truths. Th- C5ney Isl
and Jockey club last season employed a
photographer TO take-it- finishes. Which
track will be the first To employ a full staff
Of photographers for the purposes above
described The one that does will enjoy
public confidence such a. has never before
been accorded "A racing association and a
tremendously increased patronage.
The cost Of the Photographic staff aud
equipment will be but "A mere bagatelle in
comparison 20 the increased revenue the
association will derive from it, Use. Ii
can even he made "A source Of revenue to
the association, for prints Of the points OF
the great race. can be taken from the
negatives in large numbers, and horsemen
will buy them with avidity a. souvenirs Of
the great turf events in which they were
interested. J. b. MCCORMICK.