The Washington times., 1905-10-27
DEFEND CASSIDY
STYLE OF START
WeSterners Call His Walk
Up System Best.
TAKES WHACK AT STEWARDS
Detroit Man Not Awed by Their Owl
Like Wisdom-Where Blame
Belongs.

western friends of Starter Mars Cas-
sidy are coming to his defense as a
result OF the abuse which has been
hurled at him because Of bad starts and
the heavy penalties he has inflicted
upon jockeys who would not obey or
ders at the post.
incidentally, the Westerners are not
at all awed or impressed by the air of
sacred wisdom In which the stewards
of the metropolitan tracks are so fond
OF wrapping themselves. The scribes
of the wild and woolly even go SO
far as TO declare openly that it is per-
fectly possible for the stewards to
make mistakes Such temerity is al
most inconceivable. but II exists. One
racing expert takes up the cudgels for
Cassidy in the Detroit News as follows:
Popular in North.
Detroit is considerably interested in
the starting bugaboo which is worry
ing racegoers IN the metropolitan cir
cult. Hoffman and Dwyer had followed
Caldwell on the local tracks and their
work was emiaently satisfactory Down
ut Benning and other minor courses in
the East they mad starter named Mars
Cassidy. and finally the Highland Park
Club employed him to do the work here
the Northern circuit his fame spread,
until at the end ofsa season he was
rated among the best.
Cassidy introduced the walk-llp start
and it worked like a charm Lining the
horses up some yards back of the bar
rier he commanded the boys to walk
them to the barrier and as they reached
1t he released the rubber and gave the
signal. Up and OF, nearly always in
good alignment, and seldom a case OF
a horse left at the post, 1t caught the
popular fancy at once.
His Troubles Began.
The fame OF the new starter spread
to the East. where he had previously
worked without more than passing no.
tice, and finally the Jockey Club sent
for him to come back
Cassidy did not want to leave the
northern circuit, and the many friends
he had in Detroit, Buffalo and else
where. but there was the satisfaction
OF going back and the substantial
money gain. The regular starter CIV
ing upthe work. Cassidy passed from as
socfate to chief, and then his troubles
peBan. Tasting all this year and max
ing MIN unpopular, when the blame for
poor work should have been put upon
Vetoed walk-Up.
The first appearance of Cassidy In
the East two years ago was at the
Aquecuct track, and he showed them
the walk-up start Papers printed long
articles in commendation of It. and
said 1t was the best starting seen there
in recent years
But something came over the stew
ards of the Jockey Club. the small bot
lie coterie who control metropolitan
racing They decided against the Cas-
sidy method in favor OF a hybrid sys
tenn, and said that he must walk the
norses up TO TIE carrier, have them
STOP Tor while, then dispatch them.
Inls brief pause was enough for 81
and horses 10 indulge in ali sorts oS
stntlcs, and the starts have been had
N consequence, although as good a .
tney would have been with any other
man In the position.
Stewards to Blame.
Cassidy has been the subject of n,p.,,
ADVERSE comment during the wear and
papers have been almost brutal I'm de-
nunciation Of his work. Few words. have
been said about the stewards who arc
10 blame. but now that the season is |
about over. the sentiment is changing |
and the stewards are coming in for met,
share One writer roasts them soundIv
Tor their interference and points out that
England had the same trouble until the |
.sacesoing pubic rose up and demanded |
tnat norses be started from walk
cassidy is to start at Hot Snrinos
ano proDably the COrrigan track al NJ,
orieans this winter. but whether he will
C. .S. i1I tne Jockey Club next season 1
mates" 0'' insI-