STARTING FROM PLATFORMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 50

STARTING FROM PLATFORMS

During the present season the Dunedin Jockey Club passed a resolution which made it icompulsory for the starter to be up on a small platform at the time he released the barrier at the start of each race. Prior to that the mechanism of the Rose starting machine xised by tho D.J.C permitted the official to walk behind his field and after getting them in line, despatch his horses without losing valuable moments by having to run across the track to mount to his stand. Starting horses from a small stand has two objections. The first is that the riders nearest to the lever, if they are smart, can obtain a decided advantage over these who are lined up at the far side of the course ; and the second is that the field frequently becomes disorganised during the time the starter has occupied to reach his platform after getting his field in line. This latter part of the business should be the jockey's duty, but a great number of them appear to lack competence in that direction. At the tinio the D.J.C. parsed the> resolution referred to the writer considered it a letrograde step, and the following jpinion frozn an English paper bears in the same direction: — It was universally adniitted (says an English writer) that the starting at Newmarket was an improvement upon that to which we have become accustomed with the "gate," and the explanation probably is that for the first time electricity was adopted. With Mr Hugh Owen concealing behind him the tube by means of which he released the barrier, it was impossible for the jockeys to forest-all him in any way, and the experiment was very successful. We remain of opinion that machine-starting — at anyrate from a "stand'" — is unnatural and a mistake, but if the» "gate" is going to be continued, the Jockey Club should certainly insist upon the use of electricity at all meetings.