144 



Lovers of the Horse 



PHILIP McGINNIS 



A BENEFACTOR to tlu- cause of the thoroughbred, aud to the (knotees of the 

 royal sport of raciug. is Mr. Pliil. McGmnis, who was born at Huntingdon, 

 (^ucbtT, and who is one of the few Canadians to have climbed to the very toj) 

 of the la(hier of success in the racing workl. 



Mr. McGinnis's great contribution to the king of sports lias been his invention, 

 the starting machine. In the early days of racing in this country, no barrier was used, 

 and tlier(> were so many wreteliedly unequal and unfair starts, that Mr. McGinnis 



began to reason out a way to put things 

 on a more equal basis. 



The result of his cogitations was the 

 invention and ])ertVeti()n of the barrier, 

 as it is known to-day, a machine which 

 has proved so successful that it is now 

 being used on almost every race-track in 

 America. 



To start horses away from the post 

 with an equal chance is something to 

 have lived for, and this most desirable 

 condition of affairs is what Mr. McGinnis 

 has accom])lished. The jmblic owes him 

 a debt of gratitude for this one achieve- 

 ment. 



Always a lover of the horse, particu- 

 larly of the thoroughbred, Mr. McGinnis 

 was a regular attendant at Tnany of the 

 tracks on this continent, beginning his 

 active career as a starter in the city of 

 Quebec, when he was asked to fill that 

 ])osition at a meeting of the Quebec 

 'J\irf (^lub. 



For several years lie fulfilled his 

 duties there so ably that he became very 

 well known to horsemen, and then commenced his success. Mr. McGinnis has 

 ofiiciated at many of the larger tracks in this country, whil(> he is a great favorite 

 in the south, where he now does most of his work. 



lie makes his home in London, Ontario, where he takes a great interest in all 

 classes of sport. Fie has great skill, both as a rider and drivei', and is well known 

 on every track in .\ineriea. 



Philip McGinnis 



