Hands & Heels Race at Carlisle

[yeats]

But the assistant starter chases them in cracking a long tom

[cjboy]

But he didn’t hit them!! Surely that’s the point!

[yeats]

I was thinking more in general than just todays race, would the starter use his whip/or has he to get them started if required? A bit of a contradiction if he did as jockeys aren’t allowed to use their whips for encouragement in the actual races.

[Anonymous]

I’ve always been bemused and amused by that business of the little man waddling after the field waving his Long Tom. It’s as if the poor chap wanted to feel wanted: "Look, I’m only the assistant, but I’m doing

something

for my money!"

Can anyone think of a single example where a potential non-runner was shocked into a gallop by this antic? Or is just one of those much-derided "traditions" which had a function before starting gates came along in 1894?

[Author]

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