The sun., 1903-12-27
TWO STARTERS NEXT SEASON.
MARS CASSIDY TO WORK WITH
{. II. FITZGERALD.
VIII Either Alternate or Local Tracks
WIN Make n Choice Between Them
Jockey Club Believes strain Too
,iuch for One Nan-Cassldy Notified.

Mucl TOT Vut NtHIi-Nussiu
II was stated among turfmen yesterday
that the Jot ky Club. after due deiberation.
had definitely decided to have the starting
on MatropJli,an tracks done in future by
TWO men, G. D. Fitzgerald and Mars Cassidy
According to The SUNS informant MIR.
Cassidy, at the close of the Bennngs meet
ing, was notified by one Of the stewards
that il would be well for him to cancel all
outside engagements, a. his services would
b. required by the Jockey Club next year
Those who have talked with Mr. Cassidy
further assert that the plan in view Is TO
place both Mr.. Cassidy and Mr. Fitzgerald
under contract for the entire year. and
either work them alternately two weeks
al "A time, or allow each separate racing
association to make choice between them.
It is understood that the Jockey Club
has absolutely no fault to find with Mr..
Fitzgerad's work, but that it is the opinion
of the stewards that work with the barrier
every dav is too much Of n strain upon the
nervous system for single man to endure
without a rest. There is such thing,
the stewards are quoted as saying. as a
starter growing stale and that change
or n rest now and then should be highly
beneficial. Mr.. Fitzgerald virtually starts
horses all the year round, working through
the 100 days meeting at New Orleans in
the winter then going to Memphis. prepara-
tory to the long, archious campaign on the
New York circuit. Mr. Cassidy has done
the starting at Aqueduct, .Benningss, Fort
Erie, Buffalo and other minor tracks
1t was not until the fall meeting at Aquc-
duct last month, however, that Mr.. Cas-.
sidy's success with the barrier attracted
widespread attention and made the Jockey
Club officials regard him with special favor.
Mr.. Cassidy for the first time on a local track
instituted the plan of forming the horse, in
straight line across the track about fifty
feet from the barrier. instead OF with
couple of feet of the ribbon Then he
made the jockeys walk their horses slowly
up to the gate which was sprung If there
were no breaks Mr. Cassidy was compli-
mented by many horsemen on the result
of his method.
When the meeting at Jamaica, week
work, was inst ructed to Try the Cassidy
met hod. For some reason the stewards
asked Mr.. Fit zgerad to align the horses
even furt her back than he Cassidy mark,
with the result that by the time the
boys got their mounts to the barrier
there was much moment um in many
cases that, they were ordered back to
try over again. Mr. Fitzgerald finally
mast cred the scheme and gave general sat
isfaction, but at the same time. his friends
insist ed that there was no reason why the
old syst EN-. in vogue from he time the
recall flag was done away. with, should be
eiminat ed. Mr.. Fit zgerald' friends point ed
TO the fact that his starting, ever since
Jockey Club, had created feeling OF su,,
preme confidence among racegoers and
hat his work under the no recall syst EN-
had improved wonderfully, SO hat there !
hat reason they could not underst and
why he should be asked TO alt or his met hods.
But, as stated above, the stewards at no
line had any fault to find witt the Fitz-
Gerald's st tart ing, bun were acting with an
eve to progress and also 10 providing
relief to the present incumbent.
In Chicago and on the California tracks
for some time past the starting has been
done alternately by two men, Richard
Dwyer and Jake Hoffman, who are at pres
ent officiating at the new Los Angeles
track. They have always provided work
of high character and the public has
seldom been known TO protest. This ar
rangepent has been G,t1 brought to the 3t atten-
good features have been duly considered.
The idea Of having a Substitute" So
called, is another argument that is said to
have carried weight with the turf authori-
i'll the other could instantly take his place
without Inconvenience to owners or the
public. The same point has been raised
about the official Handicapped, w.. S. Nos-
DuTRn, ana III sCIn6 QudIurTS j Is COIlIl-
cently believed that the work of this official
next year will be done by board of three
A turfman of prominence, in discussing the
starting problem. said yesterday:
1T is probable that the work will be
equally divided between Fitzgerald and
Cassidy. Both have influential friends in
the Jockey Club, and If there is tendency
TO show partiality to one there may be
deadlock. Cassidy is good starter and
has many owners with him, but Fitzgerald
still enjoys the confidence of all identified
with the turf Cassidy will be regular
Jockey Club racing official next year beyond
q doubt
Secretary Rehberger OF the Brooklyn
Jockey Club has announced sixteen stakes
to be run at Gravesend next year which
will close on Jan. 4. They include the
Brooklyn Handicap of $4,000, the Standard
Stakes, 5000 added the Brookdale and
Parkway handicaps, the Myrtle and Patch
ogue stakes, the Broadway, Preakness and
May stakes for three year olds. the Clover,
Manhanset, Hanover and Bedford stakes
for two year olds and the Empire State,
Greater New York and kensington steepe-
chaseS.
The stewards Of the National Steeple-
chase and Hunt Association have voted to
abolish all hurdle races in future. Steeple-
chase events will be substituted for the old
fixtures.