I question the necessity of taking the runners off the course at the start, and it is certainly true that with large fields (15 is about the tipping point) it is the return to the racing surface that triggers the flaw in the system.

However, let us suppose that the present “holding area” continues to be a feature of the the process. The flaw could still be neutralised if the following procedure was implemented:

Let the horses WALK out on to the track and turn AWAY from the tapes, NOT TOWARDS them. Let them “take a turn” AT THE WALK some yards behind the start, and keep walking UNTIL ALL THE RUNNERS ARE ON THE TRACK, and let them keep on walking  in a circle until the starter has mounted his rostrum and asks the field to turn and walk towards the tapes. This process eliminates unfairness, encourages trust between jockeys and starter, and allows the horses to remain calm.

Andrew Simpson.

20th October 2012