VII 

 STARTERS AND STARTING 



BY A STARTER 



Previous contributors to this series have, very 

 properly, dwelt upon the importance of the offices 

 they fill ; the trainer has noted that if a horse is 

 not fit it cannot win races, the judge has pointed 

 out that a moment's confusion or carelessness on 

 his part may divert the legitimate spoils of victory, 

 and so on. I am inclined to maintain, with no 

 idea of magnifying my office, that the starter is by 

 no means the least important personage in the 

 racing hierarchy ; for it is no doubt true that races 

 are not seldom lost at the starting-post — it may be 

 owing to the fault of one of my brethren or myself, 

 or it may arise from other causes which need not be 

 specified. I am by no means of a suspicious nature, 

 I hope, and know how much nonsense is talked 

 about horses that are not " out " ; but supposing a 

 jockey were not anxious to win a particular race, it 



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