156 THE RACING WORLD 



be utilised ; the starter will be able to touch a 

 button at the end of a cord, which he could do 

 without any obvious motion of the hand. When 

 the flag was used, certain jockeys had a really 

 marvellous gift of " getting off," knowing by a 

 kind of instinct when there was going to be a 

 start. I suppose they studied the official's face, 

 habits, and actions, and could see when he was 

 about to let them go. And there have been 

 horses also that watched the flag and understood 

 when they were to set off without any hint from 

 their riders. 



In the days of Mr. MacGeorge I fancy criticism 

 was less rife. I am not for a moment saying that 

 he was anything but the excellent starter tradition 

 holds him to have been, but there were not so 

 many tongues and pens ready to find fault. His 

 methods are said to have been particularly rough 

 and ready, though I do not suppose there is any 

 truth in the old story which declares that on one 

 occasion, when the field had been at the post for 

 some time, he impatiently exclaimed, " Now, you 

 that aren't trying, get behind, and let those that 

 are have a chance of starting ! " 



The official starter to the Jockey Club receives 

 a salary for the eight meetings at Newmarket, and 

 he has also to do duty at Ascot, Epsom, and Good- 



