The Washington times., 1929-03-01
Stall |
GATESARE
ALTERED


Bowie is to have an improved
style of starting when the
bangtails open the popular
Prince Georges county track
on April 2. President James
.O'Hara was thoroughly pleased
with the splendid result OBJ
tanned with the system OF
starting inaugurated at this
course last November.
He discovered while watching the
fields being despatched by Jim Mi
ton, Nos 1, 2 and 3 post positions
were so placed they proved decided
disadvantages to the thoroughbreds
assigned to them. This slight detett
has been ironed out during the
winter. 1t is expected the coming
meeting will prove the superiority
of the stall-gate system over an
rival methods.
lin O'Hara is one Of the most
thoughtful officials in Eastern rae
fngM While classed as a professional
promoter, he has the fine ideals OF
the thorough sportsman. He is ever
ready and willing to do anything 70
aid in the elevation OF the sport ne
is so deeply interested In.
His cOura geOus decision in the
face OF much criticism to experi-
. ment with stalI-gates at his late
fall meeting gained the whole
n hearted support of the entire
racing community. HIS deciSlOn
H to improve OH the system IL sure
= 10 he watched with intense IN
Z, terest by all in the sport.
s4 gbaa stall gate must come. No
/ iEnatter how some of our officials
uppose its adoption the racing pub
Mc -ts going to make such insistent
demands no association will dare TO
nnnose its installation. Good starts
are necessary for the Improvement
nf racing. The stall gate is the only
practical way to bring about good
Starts. Every one who witnessed
the fine work of Jim Milton at
4 Bowie last November cannot deny
the fact his starting was almost
l,eyond criticism. He made them
from the stall boxes erected at the
starting lines of the Prince Georges
county course.
Marshal Cassidy, son of the fam
Gus Mars, has had great success
with the stall gate at Tia Juana.
Those who have raced thorough
breds out of the contrivances jim
/, Coffroth has placed in his Mex, an
racing center speak in the highest
terms of the results obtained. Poor
starts are the exceptions. Under
the present system of starting
around New York good breaks are
rare happenings.
The stall gate eliminated the hold
ing of horses by assistant starters.
This is one of the high crimes of
racing. 1t can never be done yay
with until the system under which
1t is tolerated has been abolished.
More scandal has been started ~
this cardinal sin of racing than any.
thing else. More real en- mics hav'
been made through what apparently
looks like deliberate attempts t"
hold favorite at the post than any
other abuse of the sport.
In most cases the assistant
uncOnsciOuslv takes hold II the ,
bride of the faVOrite. They
don't know they are being criti-
cized severely for their actions.
If some heard the comments OF
the patrons they would immC j.
ateIy unlOOsen their holds to
defends themselves against the
attacks.
With stall gates suCn unfavorable
actions are Gone away with en-
tirely. The stalls are built in> such
a manner that all an assistant
starter does is to lead the unruly
one up to the stall he is to occupy.
After that there is no need of an
assistant taking a firm hold of a
bride or turning a horse around so
often he becomes dizzy.
Another advantage of the stall
gate is that the bad actors are de-
prived of the opportunity of in
juring a rival by kicking him.
Placed as all starters are in a
stall, all such unruly animals can
do is kick the sides of the stall.
This can only result in injury TO
themselves. Do not allow those
opposed to the stall gate tell you
that many a champion has not been
permanently injured at the starting
gate by the flying heels Of some
unruly rival.