172 CORRESPONDENCE ON THE FALSE STARTS. 



" It was my intention ere this, to have prepared for your Magazine, some 

 remarks upon a subject which concerns in no small degree, the interests of all, who 

 are in any manner connected with the turf. The subject to which I allude is the 

 late race for the St. Leger Stakes, at Doncaster. The object I have in view, in 

 thus intruding upon your notice, is to point out what I conceive to be the cause of the 

 late confusion which took place at Doncaster. It would appear, it is the object of 

 the riders to harrass and irritate the warm-tempered horses, as much as possible by 

 the frequency of false starts. An idea at one time prevailed, that the Lisette Colt, 

 (Mr. Pierse's, the favourite) was of a very irritable disposition, consequently we 

 immediately see the object there was in view, in making so many false starts. Now, 

 Sir, if stakes like the St. Leger, Derby, Oaks, &c. are to be won or lost at the 

 pleasure of men intituled Jockies, there is an end to racing. If it is to depend on 

 the caprice of such men, whether the horses are to go off at the first start, or at the 

 eighth or twelfth, I cannot but anticipate a speedy dissolution to such stakes. 

 When Prince Paul started for Derby, it is solely to the great number of false 

 starts that his defeat was attributed. When Altisidora won the St. Leger, there 

 were no less than ten starts before the horses could get away. From these instances 

 I conclude such conduct in Riders highly improper and reprehensible to one man 

 I point in particular. He is a man rendered conspicuous, not for his superior 

 ability in jockeyship only, but also for the continual practice of this stale trick. 

 His conduct at M ; when on G was such as to draw forth the just in- 

 dignation of the surrounding multitude. Such men are unworthy the support of 

 any Gentleman, and when we see such notorious characters employed, we have but 

 too much reason to suspect their conduct is winked at. I do not undertake to 

 point out a method of starting, by which that confusion, similar to what took place 

 at Doncaster, can be avoided, but really the difficulty .appears so small, that the 

 least study would suggest one." 



It will be but candid, or fair play, so state the arguments of another practical 

 Sportsman, who takes a directly opposite view of the question. 



He urges that " although more Horses are entered for the stakes this year, 

 than ever were entered before, there is no ground why the start should be altered : 

 besides, if any method be fixed upon for the future starts at this Race, it must 

 either emanate from the Members of the Jockey Club, or be approved of and adopted 

 by them. It is well known, and has been often proved, of how little consequence 

 it is, whether the Jockey gets the first at the start, or gets only what is termed, a 

 tolerably good start, which every one may do, for the distance is such, that in the 

 latter case, when the horses have passed the Hill, (Doncaster Course) he has it in 

 his power to take what place he chuses, provided his horse has sufficient speed, for 



