The Washington times., 1904-02-03
TWO STARTERS
TO ALTERNATE
Cassidy and Fitzgerald Will
Spring Barrier.
EACH WORKS FULL MEETING
Arrangement Gives Them an 0ppor-
tunity to Study Methods
of Jockeys.

The appointment Of Starters G. J.
FITZGERALD and Mars Cassidy by the
Jockey Club to operate on the metro
politan tracks has caused much specu-
lation among turfmen as TO the plan
upon which they will work. Some time
ago, when the question Of two starters
was first preached. il was said that
both would have to be on the ground
each day and that thew might be used
for every other race, or every other
day. or alternate meetings.
It has been learned. on excellent
authority. that Mr. Cassidy will handle
the barrier at Benning and Aqueduct
during the spring meetings. Then Mr..
Fitzgerald. who will act as starter at
Memphis after his New Orleans engage
ment, will do the starting at Jamaica,
AS the Jockey Club officials have prac-
tically decided to have the starters work
at alternate meetings. it viii be Mr..
Cassidy's turn at the Westchester spring
meeting at Morris Park. On that basis
Mr.. Fitzgerald will resume work at
Gravesend and will also start at Sleeps
head Bay in June in the absence of Mr.
Cassidy at Buffalo The latter will come
back 70 Brighton. with Mr.. Fitzgerald
at Saratoga. Mr.. Cassidy going to Buff
faIo on September 3. Then Mr.. Fitz-
gerald will wind up at Sheepshead Bay.
Morris Park and Jamaica, with his CO.
worker doing duty at Gravesend. Aque-
duct and Benning in the fall
Convincing Arguments.
The arguments against alternating the
starters during races or from day to day
have been convincing. the fact being
pointed out that there would necessarily
be a complete change Of crews and
gates, which might work 10 disad-
vantage. whereas II one starter should
have a full meeting in which 70 work
he would have plenty OF time TO. get
acquainted with both horses and jock
eys. 1t has also been definitely decided
that the starters will have to adopt the
same methods. the plan of lining the
horses Up fifty feet OF so away from
the barrier and then having them walk
10 a signal TO break This idea was
successfully introduced last fall by Mr..
Cassidy and was so popular with every
body interested in racing that the stew
ards concluded to make IL permanent.
1t is understood. however. that each
starter will be allowed to use his own
particular gate and also to employ his
own help. so that there viii be no con-
fiict on tbs line.
In case OF sudden illness. there will
always be regular starter on hand 4
attend TO this important department of
a world OF dependence
Handicap Weights.
The weights for the big handicap
caused a great deal of discussion amonl
turfmen. The experts went over Their
carefully and were unanimous in tn
opinion that W. S. Vosburgh had treate,
all with remarkable fairness. His al
lotments were alluded to as an illustra
ton of the needlessness Of board o
landscapes. which was so widely agi
tated by turfmen last fan. NATURALLY
some persons formed the opinion tina
such and such horse had been ''let II
nicely this being the case. in the esti
nation Of a few, with reference e
James r. Keene's three-year-old col
Delhi. who received IS pounds in botl
the Brooklyn and the Suburban. Las
year Trainer Rowe stoutly maintainei
that Delhi was the best o-year-old fl
training. especially after he defeater
Highball at Saratoga. and with his pres
ent allotment Rowe Is sure to give IN
coit a special preparation for. the Sub
urban at least At the weights Mr.
Vosburgh has shown a disposition TO re
gard Hamburg Belle as the champio
two-year-old OF last season as she give
Highball scale weight in all three handl
caps Turfmen say that the entries 10
the three big stakes include every hors
Of any account in America. an unprece
denied show.
Burns Handicap.
The $4,000 Burns Handicap will be ~
at Ingleside next Saturday This is til
star event Of the racing season in Cal
fornia- The distance is a mile and
quarter, and W B. Jennings Proper wi
probably carry top weight The othe
notable candidates are Claude Shot Cur
Oarsman. Argregor, Nones. Fossil. Wa
Witt, KenilwOrth. Honiton. Dainty
Faulconbridge. Beau Ormonde Divin.
Horton. Yellow Tail, Horatius Ben MAJ
Dhui. Leader. Grafton. Bear Catche
Major Tenny. Incubator. Toledo Roct
away. Joe Lesser. Eonic. and Hugh NJ,
Gowan-
nlIhhHOCn nInEnIII