New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-03
BARRIER INSTRUCTION.
Good Results Being Seen-Comment
ON Various Racing Topics.

now beinp maid 70 schooling II is true that there
have been cases where horse has gone to the post
so green that his chances of winning were mate
rally lessened but in the main, the high strung
two-year-olds have caused hardly more trouble to
the starter than the older horses. The vital I'M
portance Of careful and thorough schooling has i'm
pressed itself owners and trainers alike 1t TOOK
some time, and at the cost of many bitter expert
ences to convince trainers of the necessity for
barrier instruction and the officials even had 10
take a hand and make the schooling in some cases
compulsory. But now the youngsters and old9r
horses too are schooled two three times a
week. and it has to be regular part of their
early instruction. At Sheepshead Bay and Graves
end a barrier is erected. and hardly morning
passes without its being called into use. In this
barrier is what it is for and When the proper time
70 break away. Inc wiz De rosri} 70
school the nervous. irascble thoroughbreds Ihey
ant starters to the utmost by their righteousness
and misbehavior. They must be coaXed ana GO. co
creed like wiful children and made TO under
barrier suddenly flies up with a click. 70 watch
i've or six fractious Youngsters schooling at the
barrier for the first time gives some idea OF me
loss 10 themselves, have shirked the duty in the
two-year-olds at peace with the world. only 10
leave with patience ruled and nerves unstrunS
tabshed. however, and. as said before the good
results are already in evidence.
In speaking of the barrier. it can be noted that
Mars Cassidy. the Jockey Club starter. is using
a combination of his own walk up system and
the Nat footed method that in force last year
when Fitzgerald and Cassidy started at alternate
meetings. This is quits important. as show
ing that the experimental stage las not yet
passed the matter of having the horses line up
ct the barrier. Under the present plan Mr.. cas-
sdy has the fields lire up from 100 to 100 yards be-
hind the barrier and walk up slowly in line, pause
for an appreciabe instant and break away fiat
footed. 1t is working fairly WE'LL in fact the start
Ing has been uniformly good. Small fields have
been the rule. however, and with the more I'M
WILDLY ones, which sure to be seen on local
tracks, the plan may not work so we'll Mr. Cas-
sidy is a firm believer in his plan, and it may be
said his walk up system worked well last year
Instructed Fitzgerald to try it at Jamaica. 1t
suited disastroUsly, however, in the hands OF o.. a
gerald the senior starter last year the stewards
decided on the fiat footed method No% t ma eI
to give him free hand and allow him to use the
accomplish the hest results A man can do the
best work under system in which he has most
sume that tie walk up method will be used ex-
clusively this year
In the short ten days OF racing at Bennings the
starter was called upon to mete out punish
ment to a number OF jockeys for misbehavior at
the post Herein lies much of the trouble for poor
send-offs for which either horses are blamed or
starter criticised. Burns, Redfern and CrimmiDs'
among others. have been suspended for offences
at the barrier for which no excuses could be
the horses or starter. to blame for ragged
starting as a rule. Unless the boys gain some
undue advantage oftentimes they pull their
mounts about in a way to try the patience of the
starter and the horse also. No matter how clever
and conscientious starter, or how well schooed
a horse, jockey neutralize It all. Control OF
the boys is, therefore essential. and further than
that a proper schooling for them at the barrier
is necessary. The stewards might issue man
date that jockeys who in the opinion of the
starter are in need of instruction or drilling be
obliged to school horses in the early morning two
or three times a week This might aid in eject
ing good, prompt starting Jockeys, as a rule,
must be governed with stern hand They are
quick to take advantage Of any leniency the
part Of the starter. Cassidy is good discipline
rian, and the boys will not be long in finding that
he will not tolerate any disobedience. He has al
ready showed that he proposes to be the boss and
do the starting. and it win be well II the lesson is
taken to heart ana prohted by Mh zen a Jockey Is
vices so that owners and trainers snoId aid the
their work
The Washington Jockey Club has adopted the
plan the meeting of posting the bulle
tin board the names Of horses which will wear
blinkers in a This plan is an acceptable one
and has met the hearty approval Of racing folk. The
associations in the metropolitan district will do
well make this innovation at local tracks also.
and in all probability 1t will be done. The subject
of blinkers has been the of little discussion
In the past, and particularly last year. when on
in blinkers went to the post without them Blinkers
or no blinkeTs have much to do with the running
of a horse 10 form, and it is only fair to those
who speculate the result that information Of this
kind be Obtainable before the horses are on their
way to the post. When Jockey weighs in he must
announce to the clerk of the scales whether his
mount is to wear the 'rogues badge or not. This
rule strictly enforced last year. II only
mains for the associations to have this informal ton
properly posted where all who care to can see IT.
While there was some cause for criticism in two
or three instances in the racing Bennings last
week it is gratifying TO note that in the the
sport has been clean, wholesome and free from the
faint of scandal The stewards of the meeting have
shown plainly that they wide awake and ready
at all times to the best interests OF the
sport. The moral effect of the careful guidance
and wise control of the Jockey Club is being felt
more and more each year. Good results are bound
follow, in higher quality of sport than ever be-
fore. Form at Bennings In the spring of the year
| is at best a most uncertain guide. Knowledse Of
now more easily obtained by the public than in
centage Of winning favorites has been above the
| average
With the racing season hardly begun It is plain
that there will be dearth of capable jockeys this
| year. Fuller is riding in his oldtime FORM and his
reformation seems complete Baird. the little light
| weight whose success at Bennings last week was
one Of the features, will unquestonaby be a well
| come addition to the ranks. while Mcdaniel and
Aubuchon. who have been riding with much skill
on the winter tracks. also likely to make good
| when they East. Crimmins has improved
over winter, and so has Sporting. and Creamer. in
R Of the good BOYS OF last Season viii re
90 thar the competition Tor iockav hnnor"
be keener than ever
JENNINGS ENTRIES FOR TODAY.
Washington. April 2.-The entries for the Ben