JOCKEYS AND JOCKEYSHIP 117 



be, in the bank for an apprentice who wins a race 

 for them. 



The gate ? Yes, of course we had to come to 

 that ! Well, it has its advantages and its dis- 

 advantages, but it is no use trying to say which go 

 for most, because the gate isn't likely to be done 

 away with now that it has come, and we should 

 certainly make a mess of things if we went back. 

 We have got used to the machine, too, and have 

 come to understand it. Many horses won't face it, 

 but it is only fair to the gate to say that many 

 would not face the flag. I've had some very 

 rough times with horses that refused to go near 

 their field. The worst thing about the machine is 

 that horses have to start from a stand, and some of 

 them simply cannot do this. It may be make and 

 shape — I do not know the reason, only the fact ; 

 but when the barrier goes up there are some horses 

 that are always four or five lengths behind when 

 the others have gone a hundred yards. On certain 

 courses this puts them out of the race at once, and 

 if they can't stay, and so find time in a long race to 

 make up, they are no use for racing. Other 

 horses — but these are altogether exceptions — are 

 galloping at once from a stand. Sundridge, for 

 instance, is wonderfully quick in this way. He is 

 in his stride and at speed the moment he moves. 



