UNIFORMITY IN. STARTING

Evening Post, Issue 12, 14 July 1936, Page 13

UNIFORMITY IN. STARTING

At the annual meeting of the Racing Conference last week, the Hawke's Bay remit to provide for standing starts was moved by Mr. G. D. Beatson, who urged the value of uniformity and said most .of the people he had spoken to favoured the standing start. Dr. A. McGregor Grant opposed the remit. Pie had heard many opinions in the Auckland district and they were just as definitely favourable to the walk-in start. Mr.' L. C. Hazlett, speaking with experience of starting, thought the standing start was the best. Dr. M. G. Louisson, who favoured the standing start, stressed the importance of a uniform system, as being beneficial to the horses. Mr. D. M. Findlay wished to know what would happen,, in the event of the remit being passed, if a starter did not send the field - off from a stand. Would the race be declared null and void? This would be a logical result of a breach of the Rules of Racing. Mr. Beatson reminded Dr. Grant that the late Mr. C. O'Connor, the best starter he had seen in Auckland, favoured the standing start, as did Mr. P. D. McNab, of Christch'urch, whom he considered to be the best starter in New Zealand today. The remit was lost.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS, "R.V."—M., £2 18s.

"T.R."—Such an occurrence has not happened in.races in recent years, •and could not, because it would be contrary to the Rules of Racing. It may have in very early days, but no instance is known,