The turf . nt of them. The starters object is to getthe field in a line, to see that no jockey is trotting orcantering, but that all are at a walk ; and, when the lineis once straight, to say Go! and flash his flag to theground. The business is difficult, for several often cannot restrain their horses ; sometimesa few are all anxiety to get away, just to anticipate thefall of the flag, and so steal an advantage ; on occasions,it is to be feared, they do not all want to get off toowell ; and there are times when they lose their tempersand give as much trouble as they dare, persi
The turf . nt of them. The starters object is to getthe field in a line, to see that no jockey is trotting orcantering, but that all are at a walk ; and, when the lineis once straight, to say Go! and flash his flag to theground. The business is difficult, for several often cannot restrain their horses ; sometimesa few are all anxiety to get away, just to anticipate thefall of the flag, and so steal an advantage ; on occasions,it is to be feared, they do not all want to get off toowell ; and there are times when they lose their tempersand give as much trouble as they dare, persistentlydisobeying orders to come on or to come patience and equanimity are among thechief requisites for a starter ; and it must be addedthat these are found to an extraordinary extent inthe present chief occupant of the post, Mr. ArthurCoventry. The Clerk of the Scales is on duty in the weigh-ing room, his business being to weigh every jockeywho is going to ride, and make out a list of those. RACING OFFICIALS 137 competing. The jockeys declare their weights as theytake their places in the scales, and he sees if theydraw the amount. After the race he arain weighsthe riders of the horses that have been placed by thejudge, putting an extra 2 lbs. in the scale to prove thatthe horse has not carried too much. Jockeys of courseweigh with their saddle and weight cloths, and, ifthey do not quite turn the beam, the bridle may besent for to ascertain if that will make up the necessarydifference. If not, disqualification follows. The Clerk of the Course is responsible for thegeneral arrangements of the meeting at which heofficiates. He must see that the distances of thecourses are correctly measured and marked, thoughthis is not often a source of trouble, as the variousposts on most courses have stood for many years. Amore pressing duty is the publication of cards of theraces. He must also engage officials, and see that themeeting is provided with stewards. Very often thos
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidturf00w, booksubjecthorses
