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j I CASSIDY STARTING DEVICE Tried Out Sunday Morning at Tijuana, and Meets Approval of Those Present. SAN DIEGO, Calif., Dec. 15. Starter Marshall Cassidys new device for accomplishing moving starts in all races was given its first semi-public trial at Tijuana Sunday morning. Hundreds of horsemen, jockeys, stable attaches and early arrivals among racegoers witnessed the demonstration, and were unanimous in praise of the new system. Cassidy lined up nine horses and walked them in cavalry alignment behind the gate from the judges stand to the five-eighths post. Within about ten yards of the post Cassidy sprung his gate, and the horses broke from their walk to a perfect start. Cassidy demonstrated perfect control of all mechanical features of his gate. His own starting platform Avas mounted on the outside motor truck, careful study having led him to believe a better result could be achieved from that point than from the inside truck. The trucks rounded the long first turn at exactly the angle desirable for a start on a. turn. Horses will be schooled daily at the new gate fo.- several days before it is given a public trial. But in the opinion of veterans, like Judge Francis Nelson, Horace Hoag. Harry Unria and Stuart Polk, the new gate is the certain answer to the starting problem in the United States. The five-year-old gelding, Hal Wright, by Ormondale, was sold at auction in the paddock to dissolve a partnership and purchased by former jockey Willie See, at . The Green Brier Stable claimed the three-year-old filly, Contribution, a daughter ot Liberty Loan, winner of the 1917 Latonia Derby, from the second race Sunday at 00. The filly was owned by Rudolph Spreckles, San Francisco banker, and was trained bv II. T. Griffin. Jockey Eddie Taplin, the veteran who has been riding here in excellent form at the present meeting, winning four races Friday, was compelled to cancel his engagements Saturday because of pains suffered in his crippled ankle. Taplin was thrown from his mount in a race at Tanforan last spring, and suffered a broken ankle. Few thought he would ever ride again, but he has shown all his old skill this winter.
