Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-18
Has Been A Successful Starter
For Over Score of Years
Holds State Record For
Number Heats On Half Mile
Track-Still Handling Most
Important Races in Maine
And Provinces

Horse race starters are just like
baseball umpires-no one pays much
attention TO them unless they make
a few mistakes. When the. field
comes down in position and seven or
eight horses start away on the first
heat without a hitch in the proceed
ings. the crowd settles back in the
crandstand and enjoys itself. But
let the horses act badly, refuse to
score and misbehave in general and
the same crowd is willing to express
it's opinion about the gentleman in
the judges stand who is starting
them off While the days have gone
when Augusta was the scene of some
of the best horse races in the State.
this city is still in the limelight as
far as starters are concerned.
ii. II. or Harry Lee of Augusta
has been starting Judge at most OF
the big fairs. race meetings and eX-
hibitions IN this section and the pro-
vinces for the past 20 years or more.
ASK any horse owner or driver VINO
knows his stuff just who is the best
starter in these parts. and nine out
of ten will tell YOU with feeling that
Harry Lee from Augusta is the pest
in the business. And that's the key
TO his success He has the con-
fidCGce of the owners. knows the
drivers and above all he knows the
game from all angles.
Lees philosophy OF the racing
game, as told 10 Journal reporter,
is what has made the fans VINO tol-
low racing in this country have ao-
solute faith IN his ability to keep the
fliers dong their best all the time
He believes that the race gong peo-
pie deserve and must get first con-
sideration Every fan must pay ms
little admission fee to see the races
and these little admission fees keep
the game going. The true race lover
wants 10 see sharp. snappN racing,
little scoring and afternoon races an
finished early enough TO set nome III
time for tea
Ana he lives up to that policy.
With but three races on the after
noon card ii is nothing unusual with
lee at the belr' to be all through
by $50. However. we know of at
least one instance when Harry dldn t
get all through at $50 in the after
noon. While starting the races at
Pittfield once for Col w. G. Morrill,.
Harry started % heats in the course
of one afternoon. There were hVe
races, several of them going INTO
extra heats and Harry earned his
money on that occasion. The races
were all done at $40 that evening,
which as near as we can find out.
is the record for a half mile track
in this State.
Harry didn't learn what he knows
about starting races from cores
pondence school, Long before he
ever engaged in that profession he
drove his own horses IN races, and
rode in running races and is what
race drivers call good judge OF
pace. Furthermore he knows the
rules. as several drivers will testify
from sad experience.
When asked what was the best
horse he has ever said go" to, he
replied that Single G., has them all
stopped in point of hard races won.
Harry has started important races in
Maine. the provinces, NeN Hamp-
shire and Massachusetts. Although
now engaged in a business in Au-
gusta which occupies the greater
part of his time, Mr.. Lee still finds
time to take care of the most OF
them and his activities to date in
clude the races at Houlton. July 5th
and 9Th; Skowhegan, August 14th:
Woodstock. \. B.. August Is and 10:
August 9th, 25th., and 26th.. at
Houlton, and Sept. %, oS and - at
Exeter.
How about this starting, is it all
fun ~ we asked Harry.
Well" he replied. the worst of
it at the larger fairs is when one of
the officials owns race horse or
something which looks like one. but
isn't. Then there is something else
that makes things bad and that's the
amount of announcing a fellow has
to do at Maine fairs, regarding other