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STARTERS TASK DIFFICULT Vagaries of Horses and Riders Frequent Cause of Apparently Unequal Starts. Recently I drew attention to the complaints of indifferent starts and endeavored to show how often the starter is blamed for an apparently unequal "send-off," which, in fact, was a good one or was perhaps spoiled by the vagaries of certain animal or their rideis. Still, no enc pretends that the present system, taken as a whole, is really satisfactory, and although the starter is often wrongfully condemned by backers of a well-fancied horse, which has been "left," there have been starts which were anything but equal. The question has been raised year by year, and the fact of our beiiiK still in the same position seems to siiKgest that there is no remedy. This may be so, but I do not concur. There are few things in this world which cannot be improved upon, even though they may be made perfect, and it is no argument to say because so-and-so has been tried without success we must leave things as they are. Change for the mere lore of change I strongly deprecate, however. AVheliever I get an opportunity to see a start I am struck with wonder by the difficult task set the man in charge. The .jockeys, as a rule, give more trouble than the horses, and an instance of this was seen in the Derby. I was not at the post, but the cinema tcgraph clearly reveals the majority of the field well on the move, some cantering, in each of the fakso starts, the French horses being the greatest offenders. No action was ap- parently taken, and I cannot help thinking that if our practical steward Lord Lonsdales example were followed and a steward figured at every start, it would go a long way toward the improvement we all desire. Then why should not the starter, if he has made an unequal start, hoist the recall .flag, and try again? No. ? of the Rules of Racing lays it down that "Should the starter consider that, through any faulty action of the Starting gatc a fair start has not been effected, he shall declare it no start, and order the jockeys by means of a recall flag to return to the post. The starters decision on Ibis point shall be final." AVhy not pvuvlde for lb;; human f-rroi- uri wall as the tin-ehunical one? "nless through faulty wfiklng of tlic HWvliiiiv lit? sorter b pot empowered to recall tlie field once he has said "Go." Surely this is wrong, for capable a uuv I of tin- stitilfrr tin Oouhledly are, they are not infallible. A illunt, in "Tlsv SporlsmiW."
