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Quick question (that I’ve not been able to find an answer to on the internet):
What does the white flag man (who stands about half a furlong down the track at the start) do?
In the event of a false start he remains on the course and waves the flag to inform the jockeys who’ve jumped off and may not be aware, so they can immediately start to pull up
In the event of a false start he remains on the course and waves the flag to inform the jockeys who’ve jumped off and may not be aware, so they can immediately start to pull up
Cheers.
Irrelevant and pedantic point but it’s a flourescent yellow flag.
They are known as Advanced Flag Operators (AFO’s) and act, exactly has already been stated, to notify jockeys of a false start when the AFO themselves is alerted by the starter.
I think, (not certain) they introduced the flag man after the false start shambles at the Grand National in 1993.
I have been going to see races for sixty plus years and always with the flagman.I feel sure he got there before I did.
They are known as Advanced Flag Operators (AFO’s)
How many years does it require for the Apprentice Flag Operative to graduate via the Ordinary Flag to Advanced Flag Operations?I thought the flagman tended to be some needy old boy topping up his state pension with a bit of pin-money while at the same time enjoying a welcome afternoon’s fresh air away from his comfy chair and Countdown
I think you will find that Mamlook is correct. Flagmen were used in Ireland but not in England prior to 1993.
I’ve just done some short research on this, they did exist before 1993 but were not issued with white coats and did not stand in the middle of the track.I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highwaysWho is the starter waving his red flag at in the 1993 National?
Yellow flag here but it is white in Ireland where they do raise it not only for a false start, you will often hear Dessie’s dulcet tones state "White flag raised" when there’s a couple left to load or they’re about to come in over jumps.
The starter in 93 was Keith Brown oddson, he was very unlucky although he didn’t unfurl his flag when he waved it. One female rider, forget who she was, think she rode for John Edwards had her horses head over the tape just as he let them go. The procedure was at fault more than the starter.
I’d thought the WF Man also had something to do with watching horses keeping to their draw …
Hardly, since he’s on his way as soon as they start.Who checks them for the 1st half-furlong, then?
Surely not the starter, as you’d need a head-on view, wouldn’t you?Just to jog memories: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2jHwZ1JerY
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highways
How many years does it require for the Apprentice Flag Operative to graduate via the Ordinary Flag to Advanced Flag Operations?
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