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THE RACING WORLD 



what would be set down as their carelessness or 

 stupidity, and were disinclined to obey the orders 

 of the starter, dreading that they would fail to get 

 away, and so incur the wrath of their masters. 

 There are delays, as everyone knows, but seldom, 

 if ever, anything like the delays that there used to 

 be when the flag was employed. Fields were 

 sometimes kept at the post, in very many instances 

 wilfully, a jockey's design doubtless being to wear 

 out the patience and destroy the chances of some 

 animal that was known to be specially excitable. 

 The gate has not, it may be admitted, done all 

 that it was hoped it would do in the matter of 

 saving time, but at least there are never — or 

 practically never — such tedious waits as were once 

 not infrequent. Our critics in the stand are no 

 doubt often saying that such and such a brute that 

 spoils the start time after time ought to be left 

 behind, and I should very often dearly like so to 

 leave it ; but that is not a matter within the 

 starter's discretion. At length the happy moment 

 arrives, the lever is pulled, my assistant's flag is 

 lowered, and away the horses go, one or two 

 perhaps, as aforesaid, hanging back or swinging 

 round ; and then I know that probably some kind 

 friend when I return to the paddock will say — 

 having backed a loser — " They didn't get very 



