The Washington times., 1928-03-29
JIM MIL TON
.NEVERBETS
By Paddock

A starter of thoroughbred
race horses deserves a dladem
when he ceases to follow his
profession.
Therefore the writer does not
think it amiss to put in a word OF
praise for James Milton, OF this
CITY. who is the official starter on
all Of Maryland's mile racing strips
and who also handles the webbing
at the annual half-mile meeting at
Timonium.
The man who occupies starters
stand with tens of thousands OF
wild-eyed fans roofing for every
horse in the race, with every rider
trying to get the best of the start
or under instructions to get LETT,
with his horse kicking, backing
and lunging, due oftentimes to the
aid of stimulantS, has tough 1oD.
1t combines Quickness of Judgment
and honesty of purpose, designed
| to give the contestants an even
break. This means for those wager
| ing on the result square deal.
/
Race fans who wager don't
realize that starters don't care
one way or the other who wins.
Especially is this true of Milton.
who i'm his long association with
the sport Of kings has never
wagered a single penny since
he assembled to his present posi-
ton as official starter.
i
His one objective-and only one
is getting the field. away IN align
ment and in motion. This he does
| In about 80 out of 100 cases during
the spring and tall meetings here
| abouts.
When the starters leave the pad
| dock they are in the hands Of the
starter. They may, proceed to the
| point OF starting in an orderly man.
ner; they may reach there in a
| weaving array. They may plunge,
run away, sulk or otherwise regis
| ter roguish manners. The starter
is there, along with at least two
assistants, to get them off. This
is not all the starter Is confronted
with. On the back of each horse
is a jockey.
Some of them know more than the
horses, especially the old seasoned
| racers. Yes, some of them. They
| become cunning, like the horses.
They endeavor to get the better of
the start. Seeking to anticipate
when the barrier is to be released
they take "a bust" at it, meaning
they are away winging.
A few instances have thus been
indicated showing the trials and
tribulations of the one man respon-
sible for the start of a band of
racers, every one Of which is fav-
ored with the confidence Of the
public, relative merit being the
basis OF that confidence, represent
ed in money. Often this confidence
is misplaced. Only one horse can
finish in front, two others may
finish in the money. Losers, quick
to shift responsibility, often include
starter and rider. The tendency is
never to admit personal RESPONSE
bility.
A starter knowing this becomes
tease hardened" There is an
interval of about 80 minutes be-
tween each race. Disappointment
and criticism, usually forgotten,
\
may win, there is no outbreak,
and thus the game proceeds.
But-there win be q repetition.
Always the starter is In peril"
Milton, just back home from a
winter spent at Oriental Park, Cuba,
where he acted as assistant general
manager. is now making ready for
the opening Of the Eastern racing
season on Tuesday at Bowie. He will
have for his assistants e. S. Welter,
Bob Friend and Bill Schamerhorn,
and this quartet, in the writer's opin-
ion, will give race fans 100 per cent
service at all times.
Milton served his apprenticeship
under such well-known starters as
Mars Cassidy, now doing duty on
New York tracks. as well as the late
A. B. Dade. He also acted as as
sistant starter under Jake Hoffman,
Dick Dwyer, H. D. Curly Brown,
William Murray and Fred Herhardy.
His motive of running this gamut
was to absorb the best Of the various
systems.
While he may act brusque at the
gate, Milton is still the friend Of
every man and boy associated with
racing. and that's why he is always
welcomed back to Maryland tracks
by the rank and file.