The times., 1897-12-25
HOW WILL THE MACS START?
New Method Suggested to Send
the Runners Off.
Experienced Turfmen Think That
Ali Jockeys should Have an
Equal Chance.

! Bennine vii. undoubtedly start the run
the snccess of the season OF few w.eKs
ago, viii be reopened with more con
| fidence than ever, In the meantime the
| sports are at New Orleans and Saa
| Francisco and by the coming of another
| April they will reverse the oIder OF things
and fancy that Eastward the star of EN-
| pire takes its course.
| The question of who will be starter
| is really Of less importance TO the horsemen
| than the question OF what will be the
method Of starting. If turf authorities
will take the trcuole TO get the opinion
| OF TURTLES generally. they viii find
majority favor the use of the starting gate,
but without the present system of a recall.
| Owners trainers and jockeys approve OF
the plan that the Hitting Of the gate shall
| mean \ start. Bettors and layers are
equally eager to the rule adopted
The short trial of this no-recall plan
which was given year ago was no air
! test. II was n new thing for buth horses
and riders. and, while results We're hardly
gratifying, halt was called before tiI,se
who fathered the plan could show its ad
yantages. Many at the time believed it a
| good thing, hut the powers did not ;'p-
prove, ana the old style OF recall W as
rcslmed.
The chief argument sainst the no-recau
plan is the opportunities for wrongdoing
it gives rider. Of course, If 5Cckey
desired to he left at the post il would De
an easy n atter tn pull up just as the gaze
was sprung: Tut the argument is not q
desires TO do work of this sort, Il. fact
that there is recall would not hinier
him. 1t would he just as easy to pull up
as flag is lowered rs il would at The
lifting of a gate. f rider is going to
be / thief lie will be one under any ron
dition
\ jockey Is not safe 10 Ia ke chances in
this wGv. He would son find himself
in position where he would not be able
TO do any mol harm.
As to tie claim of a few that riders are
not quick enuaph To be at their test with
the first break a 20, it is not wei la sed.
In the West the system works all right
and many of the riders that have observed
its usage regularly have Eastern engage
ments- 4 u the home element, IL would
be an easy matter TO school them. Tell
u ~
the Eastern Jockeys that when the start
er's bell snuEds the gate viii g up lnd
the race begins and see how long it Will |
take them To learn their lesson. The very |
first tria. will find them entitled to gradua-
tion donors. IS 10 the lesser lights, more |
practice might be necessary; but tley, tou. |
would prove apt pupils.
Perhaps the strongest plea Of tie many |
ha hos 4
would seek a change from the old system :
tha AZ vii! dt away with he long and tire |
some delays at tie post. This means con
siderable to The public who find long " ats
trying, and To tie forsemen as well
1t happens frequently that a ficllis kept
wheeling anG prancing ct Tie lcst fer faIf
an hour in vain attempts to get sCmc bad
actor TO break. This, ia many cases, kills
the chances of EoTses ttat with rr ,n,pt
senC-off would fayc given a good accent
of themselves.
This may not lie just and yet there is no
way TO avoid il SO long as there is a recall.
Should starter drop his flsg witha t.tse
left standing te is fcotcd ard blamed in
language far from complimentary. aud ,et,
ia keep a field waiting for one OF the IN
rgly sort Is all injustice.
With the Ho-recan plan the llarue viii
rest where il belongs. Tile owner 1r the
hacker of bad actor mast take the con
sequences OF what happens at the post
One wen6nown turfIuan of Washington
favors The plan for the reason that 1t giges
the star ricers no advantage over their less
skillful fellows. To quote him: Il haze
seen the hest of our riders deliberately
break up starts to get an advantage over
ltnTS fhni faf oh f.,
They VIII pretend TO rush off when there
is no chance of q go. know ing they VIII
be followed They are prepared 10 pull up
short, hut the others 20 off. running their
race in II any cases before the flag fails.
With the first break start, the cha aces
Of all are equalized."
Que thing is certain, the experiment is
wen worth trying, for the result
,annot he more unsatisfactory than was
he starting under the old plan last season.