New-York tribune., 1905-02-20
METHODS OF STARTING.
More Experiments Likely To Be
Made This Year.


Since the barrier was introduced some years
ago, as an aid to staTting racehorses. hardly a
season has passed without less expert
menting either IN the style of the barrier used
the method of having the horses line up. Since
the adoption of the mo recall" system. three sea
sons ago. there has perhaps been less of this, as
the starting has as a rule been eminently salts
factory. AS late as last year, however. there was
experimenting done as between the standing start
close TO the barrier. advocated by Fitzgerald,
and the walk up" system, favored and used with
much success by Mars Cassidy Both starters were
under engagement TO the Jockey Club working at
alternate meetings, and each was anxious TO have
the particular style he favored officially adopted
for use To have each start in his own way
at alternate meetings would only lead to confusion
among the horses and jockeys and make both styles
ineffective Cassidy used the walk up system at
Aqueduct with enough success to convince the
stewards of its merits and in consequence Fitz-
gerald was instructed to use the same method at
Jamaica It resulted disastrousIy however in the
hands OF unused to it. and such a clamor
arose over the loose and ragged starting that the
stewards deemed II advisable to return TO the
standing start, and 1t was ordered for the rest
Of the season. Fitzgerald unquestionabIv tried his
best to accomplish the same good results with the
walk up system had invariably been the case
with his standing start but naturally he was verse
to the change. and in far as was in his power
advocated the plan under which he had been an
successful AS the senior starter. his opinion un-
doubtedly had weight with the stewards in making
a final decision.
With the resignation Of Fitzgerald to take q more
lucrative position and the appointment Of Mars
cassidy as the sole starter for the coming season
Until perchance, good alternate can be selected
the OLD question again pops up. and as result
more experimenting can be looked for. Mars Cas-
sidy Is still firm believer in his walk up' svs
tenn He has used that method at Hot snrnes +bis
winter and his starting has been so uniformly
good that 1t has pleased horsemen and onlookers
and converted even some who had always favored
the standing start 1t is said that Cassidy is more
than ever convinced himself of its advantages over
the method used last year. that he will ask the
stewards Of the Jockey Club to permit him 10 use
the walk up" system this year when the season
opens on April Is. A discussion of the so-cal1ed
relative merits of the two methods would be idle
ana could accomplish little good The best method
is the one from which any particular starter can get
the best results and IL Cassidy can do better with
his own system it is to be hoped that the stewards
will allow him TO adopt it. Too much experiment.
ing is distasteful, but certain amount is quite
necessary IN the line Of progress and so II might
be well to change once more
Lord Durham, who has been referred to as the
watchdog Of the English racing world announced
at the annual dinner Of the Gimcrack Club held
Tecenuy IN London, that his reform reducing the
distance for two-year-old races from five to four
furlongs would go into effect the Lincoln spring
meeting in March. This brings up the old question
Of the much discussed baby racing in this country
question that has been discussed for years Wtbou+
any definite conclusion being reached In France
two-year-old racing is restricted. In England nm
der Lord Durham's reform. it will be partially re-
stricted Here It is restricted only so far as the
judgment OF the owners is concerned as the va
rious racing associations offer on an avaraga
two races a day from the opening of the season
for two-year-olds. There have been cases nerhanS
Where TOO strenuous campaign has initiated
against the proper development OF a two-year-od
which counted Iafe hut
trainer would be short-sighted. indeed who
would abuse a high class youngster and It is
rarely done. Horses three years old and over
this side Of the water compare favorabIy with
the best abroad. and It is commonly accepted that
the thoroughbreds of to-day are better in every
respect than were the horses of fifteen or twenty
years ago when the inducements for two-year-
old racing were not great
The mere fact that the opportunity is offered for
the poorer lot OF two-year-ods TO their way.
and for the cracks to small fortunes, stimu-
lates the breeding industry and makes it worth
while strive diligently 10 improve the thorough
bred by scientific breeding methods. Horsemen
would not pay the prices they do for youngsters
in the sales ring each year II IT necessary TO
wait TIL late in their two-year-od year longer
TO have them their way. II horsemen did not
pay the prices the breeding industry would be
curtailed and restricted, and the general condition
would be than at present. 1t seems to be
better for the general good of all concerned that
a chance Of breaking down few good horses is |
nreferred TO any restrictions which would en-
danger the present hourishing condition OF the
breeding industry.
The allotment OF the racing dates for the coming
season by the stewards of the Jockey Club on
Thursday has met with general approval by horse
men and racing folk The conditions for the various
stakes az Belmont Park, Jamaica and Aqueduct
will now be announced. and owners and trainers
can begin 10 lay out their campaigns for the sea-
SON The only cloud now In the racing sky is the
question between the Empire City Club and the
Jockey Club over the denial Of dates for running
meeting. It would be well II the matter could be
kept out OF the courts but failing that, the some
what interesting question as TO the powers OF the
State Racing Commission Will be settled for all
time Under the present law the State Racing Com
mission has discretion in the matter OF granting
license for a running meeting. The Empire city
people maintain that such discretion exists or /
~ n does should not Racing folk will naturally I
follow the controversy with much interest, but II