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THE STARTING MACHINE. Over in England, as in this country, much ink and argument is being wasted over the so-called starting problem and the use of the starting machine or gate, of which Lord Durham is an advocate. The discussion has induced an -Australian authority to write a letter to the Manchester Chronicle giving some views of the matter that aie well worth the consideration of the flag wielders and racing officials of this country. His remarka on the use or misuse of the starting machine in this country are correct and very much to the point. In the conrse of his letter he says: "I have never seen the machine used in America and therefore cannot say how it is managed, or mismanaged, there; but I have had a wide experience of it in Australia. In the colonies no racing club, having once used it, will ever discard it. In my position as turf editor of the Sydney Referee, I was naturally called upon to criticize the machine when first tried. Being an Englishman, and accustomed to seeing horses started by Tom McGeorge, Gustance and others, I naturally leaned toward the man with the flag. It was some time before the machine overcame my prejudices, but I gave way readily when I saw what an estimable boon to racing it was. There is no comparison between the starting machine and the man with the flag; the machine simply wins hands down. I object to the term starting gate. It gives a false impression. No sane man would ever think of putting a starting gate or any other gate in front of a field of horses. It is a machine pure and simple, and when properly used is bound to be a success. It is amusing to me to read your correspondents remark about the recall system, and I am glad he votes for the no recall. If there are to be false starts with the machine, then thelman with the flag might as well be retained. There is no such thing as a false start with the machine in Australia. It was invented to do away with false starts, pre-Tent delay at the post, give every jockey a fair chance of getting off, and saving owners their money and horses, and it has done all these things, and more. It has wonderfully improved the tempers of horses and men, and has made the starters position a pleasant one. It is quite evident to me they have no idea how to use the machine on many American tracks. "What has been accomplished in Australia can be done in England and in America. I have seen every big race in Victoria and New South Wales started with the machine, and never saw a failure with it, nor horses break through it. No properly constructed machine could possibly injure either jockey or horse, no matter how quickly they got off. I have seen fields of from 25 to 35 starters getaway from the machine in an unbroken line both at Flemington and Randwick, and with only a minute or two of being at the post. Your correspondent Btates the jockeys will not submit to rigorous handling, nor do the authorities attempt to make them submit. There is the kernel of the whole business, so far as the failure at New York is concerned. The jockeys are not under proper control. Fancy jockeys ruling the roost; a nice state of affairs we should have in racing. Jockeys must be made to submit if they will not do so willingly, but I am sure the practical common sense of the English jockeys would guide them aright, and if the machine were adopted they would make the best and most of it. Australian jockeys have to submit to orders, and so onght jockeys in America. This jockey fetish is becoming a nuisance. After all they are only men, not little gods. I am glad such undoubted authority and man of sterling weight of Lord Durham has taken up the starting machine, and many racing men in high places are, I feel certain, willing to follow the lead he has given. I have seen hundreds of races started by the machine, and cannot recall to mind one failure."
