THE STARTING MACHINE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8929, 20 October 1894, Page 4

THE STARTING MACHINE.

" Weekly Press and Referee." Br "Hotspur." The principle of the starting machine has been more than once sec forth in these columns, and reference has also been frequently made as to what might be termed the progress the machine was making. I was anxious to see it at work, and I was glad, therefore, to learn that the wish was to be gratified owing to the Australian Jockey Club deciding to give Gray's patent a fair trial at the mile and a-balf pose at during the Spring Meeting, at which I was a; visitor. The idea, that I moat confess, 1 shared with many others that the machines at best ware bdtchy affaire, was radely dispelled. The Derby was the first race started by the machine, and If It might be argued that the field being a email one the moving off of all seven together was nothing to call forth laudation, it was otherwise with the Metro* politttn. The big handicap attracted over twenty starters, and when the lot got away without one having the slightest advantage over the other, except so far as the draw for pasitloa might be supposed to confer advantage, the sceptical were fain to confess that as seen at Rand wick, the machine was a pronounced success, {shifted to the six furlong post for the last day, the start tor the event over that distance, a big field being engaged, the despatch was in keeping with the others, the field getting going like a troop of cavalry. After the ocular demonstration of the unqualified success of the machine, it was a most simple task forme to respond to the cabled enquiry of the Canterbury Jockey Clnb that I could unhesitatingly* recommend the adoption of the machine -- anywhere, and having knowledge of the thorough go-aheadedness of .the Metropolitan, body making .the enquiry, I was not, surprised to receive word to procure a machine for the ftlccarton course. The " barrier " of Gray's machine is simply a couple of. bands of webbing each some four inches in width: the topmost of these is at the height of thetjorses' nose, divided from the other by a foot and a-half. Quite noiselessly by touching the lever the " barrier " Instantly run* diagonally away from the tioraee to the top of the second posts, which are 14ft high.

All the leading trainers and other experts thatl came across at Bandwick are Iα Savour of the introduction of the machine. Percy Hartia is a great believer in it, *> Is Payton* *nd -Dan O'Brien has, «ver since he flrat saw it tiled, spoken in its favour, and is now more than ever satisfied that it is the

correct thin*. The riders, tee, that I spoke to In regard to «he matter, ranch prefer being sent away "by the machine. Among others to expres* himself in such terms being Tom Hales, whom I met at Cauiaeld. There being n6 vexations delays at the post it stands to reason the racing public like the machine starting and che official flag wlelders themselves are, I understand, forced to admit that they must give place to the apparatus. lam quite satisfied that two-year-old* will not exhibit the slighest fear at the tapes which constitute the barriers of Gray's machine, and I should strongly advise the Canterbury Jockey Club to despatch the races in which theyounescers are engaged with the machine at the foarthcoming meeting. There need be no J fear but that satisfaction will be given, and, as I before remarked, the machine works noiselessly. Oxide, whom lam told, is the worst kicker in Australia, and who usually cause* a long delay at the poet when he is engaged in a race forgot his propensities the other day when the machine was in vogue, and there is reason to think our kickers would in like manuer be leas likely to indulge in exercising their heels if the backing and filling Incidental to a start when a line in not barred were done away with.