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SENSIBLE STARTING GATE SCHOOLING. The burning question of the hour in sporting circles Is the Starting Gate, and It Is generally .conceded that the present system is bad, or the starters .are lacking lii their duties. Wc understand that In the colonies the start gives greater satisfaction than here, and is seldom commented on. The reason Is not far to seek, as the horses are better trained to face the gate than at home. The method usually adopted in big stables Is that" a webbing Is stretched across the stable door, and has to.be released before any horse is permitted to go. Into the yard. This Is always done, and thus accustoms the horse to the standing start, and hence the reason of their better efficiency in getting away. The starter also Is invested with much greater power than here, and should any horse prove fractious he Is Invariably left, and riot, as we are accustomed to see, gets away and never headed. If a similar system of training were introduced here we should hear less of such episodes as that which occurred with Black Arrow. London Sportsman.
