The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-11
new RACING MACHINERY
The Australian Starting Gate Is
Proving q Big Success.
SAVES TROUBLE IN SCORING
Relieves YOuns Horses from Wear and
and Teur-Runners Like It-Why
Couldn't 1t Bs Used in
1IOtting Races?

The Australian starting gate is meet
ing with such universal Endorsement
from all who have seen II tried on run
ming tracks in this country that there
seems no doubt as to it's usefulness. III
fact, this had been demonstrated TO thN
satisfaction OF horsemen every DIT as
able as any in America before the ma
chine was tried in this country. IT the
starting gate Is of such value on the
running track, why could it not be
made TO work ON trotting tracks !.
Something should be done to do away
with the tiresome scoring which so Of
ten mars the sport.
With trotters it would be necessary to
locate the gate somewhere about the
distance flag. The starter could then
insist that every horse take his proper
position and stand until all were ready.
Then the gate would be lifted and the
whole field come down to the score to-
gether. With such an arrangement
there could be little jockeying for the
starter in the stand and his assistant
at the starting gate would be in posi-
tions to detect and punish any attempt
at sharp practice on the part u1 the
drivers. The laO yards from the start
ing machine 10 the wire would give the
horses ample Opportunity to get going.
aud all starting from a standstill they
could be made to score down together.
SAVES WEAR AND TEAR.
Almost any sized field could be sent
off on the first or second attempt. The
saving in hOrsefiesh would be u most
important item. Under the present sys-
TEN of starting a horse, which takes
purt in a five-heat race, usually goes
about five miles while scoring. This is
a al. fn-
ward knocking out Il trotter than the
race. In a tive-heat race. nowadays, Il
horse will score down on the average
20 times. With n gate he should not
score more than 10 times ut the outside.
on running tracks II gate il required
for each distance. on trOtting tracks
one gate only would be required since
the starts are all made from the same
place.
Many horsemen will throw up their
hands in horror at the idea of starting
trotters from a standstill. They will
say that some horses cannot be got go
ing in $50 yards. or 200 yards either and
that some have to be taken way back to
the three -quarter pole to get the best
results. This IL true. but should other
horses which are good scorers be made
To suffer for the faults of Il few slug
Gish or notional bruteS? And. still more
imuortant should the spertatorS who
INV far the snort by their patronage,
be forced to sill for an hour. as is often
tha case waiting for some trotter which
does NOT want To trot or for some
scheming driver who does not want his
horse TO trotp
.
GOOD FOR YOUNGSTERS.
Occasionally q young horse will be
found which, although starting even
with his field, cannot be brought down
level in two or three trials. but such
horses, after having been given fair
chance. should be left to take care of
themselves. When seasoned but er-
ratio performer, like the black gelding,
Guy. 2Oga4. is met with the sooner he is
got rid of the better. They are detri-
ments to the turf. Guy would dance Il
whole afternoon away and break up a
big field of good horses. Something
must he done to revive an interest in
trotting races.
&. W. Williams best two in three
system is to be tried by the Illinois cir
cult. Let the starting machine be tried
nv some of the Eastern associations