184 ON AND OFF THE TURF. 



but I never saw a horse attempt to bolt when lined up 

 to the machine. Example goes a loag way with horses, 

 and if there is a horse disinclined to go up to the 

 barrier, he soon gains confidence when he sees the 

 other horses close to it. A fractious horse is more 

 easily controlled at the post with a machine. Horses 

 never rush into the barrier, at least I have never seen 

 one do so, and I have seen hundreds of horses started 

 with them. Occasionally a horse will snap at the tapes, 

 but very seldom ; and even if he does, no harm is 

 done. 



In his best days Mr. George Watson, the V. II. C. 

 starter, wielded the flag as ably as the late Mr. Tom 

 McGeorge, or Mr. Arthur Coventry. Mr. Watson 

 has nothing but praise for the machine, and he starts 

 with it at the principal meetings. His opinion ought 

 to carry weight. The Americans, will, I think, adopt 

 the machine in time. It is unfair to condemn the 

 starting machine before it has been tried or even seen 

 at work, as more than one English writer has done. 

 If after a trial it is condemned, well and good, but 

 give it a trial first. A satisfactory trial would, I 

 think, lead to its adoption in England. 



When I first saw the machine I thought it would 

 be impossible to get two-year-olds early in the season 

 to face the barrier. Much to my surprise the 

 youngsters were got off with it at the first time of 

 asking, to a perfect start, far superior to anything 



