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Letter of the Week

Slow starters

 

Melbourne — recognised as the heart of Australian racing — has fast become the slowest centre to load horses at the barrier.

The officials or stewards in control of the start load every horse one at a time and they don’t start this procedure until the advertised starting time.

Hence, just about every race runs one minute late, sometimes two minutes and frequently three or four.

The horses and jockeys can be seen parading around in circles with one minute to go, whereas Sydney and Brisbane begin loading 60 seconds before.

Brisbane often has two or more runners going in at the one time and there is the odd occasion where they hold the horses for a few seconds to coincide with the advertised starting time.

Racecaller Greg Miles tries to make some interesting comments while this very slow method of loading horses takes place.

For goodness sake, start loading them earlier.

John Browning
Wondai (Qld)
Today's Racing
Friday 29 March
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March