ORDER XXVI.—PERSONS EMPLOYED IN ENTERTAINMENTS AND SPORT

Sub-order 1.—Persons Employed in Entertainments and Sport

884.—Proprietors and Managers of Other Entertainments and Sports

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clerk of the course

is sole person responsible to stewards of Jockey Club (in case of fiat racing) or to National Hunt Committee (in case of steeplechasing) for all arrangements in connection with race meetings; inspects course periodically and confers with directors of racing club (his employers) regarding stakes, programmes, race cards, etc.; supervises marking of distances horses have to run; attends races and acts as mediator between stewards and any disputing parties; generally supervises work of race course staff.

clerk of the scales

is responsible that jockey (888) (q.v.) rides at correct weight, as laid down in racing calendar; sees all jockeys weighed before race, and first four jockeys after race; supervises weighing and enters up weights in a book; is responsible to Jockey Club for proper carrying out of duties.

coursing clerk

is in charge of arrangements for sport of dog coursing; records events and results.

handicapper

watches form of competitors, to guide him in deciding handicaps; allots weights to be carried by horses in handicap races, or, in case of foot races, starts to be received by certain competitors; advises racing authority or executive accordingly.

judge

(i) (horse racing) is stationed at winning post and "places" horses in accordance with their order; is paid by executive of courses attended, and is usually under the direct control of the Jockey Club stewards;

(ii) (coursing) watches dog coursing race from convenient standpoint and decides which dog is winner.

master of ceremonies (dance hall)

arranges and regulates dances; instructs band as to time, duration, etc., of dances, and is responsible for general conduct of dancers.

rink floor manager

is in control of the floor staff and floor of skating rink, i.e. instructors, instructresses, skate boys (899), skate storeman; arranges, occasionally, with bandmaster (886) (q.v.), programmes of music, dances, etc., but is not himself musical conductor; gives instructions for removal of any disorderly person; is responsible for running of the floor, i.e. beginning and finishing of skating and clearing of floor when skating finishes.

starter

is responsible to the executives of the meetings he attends, for the starting arrangements of a race; at race meeting, when all horses are in line, pulls a lever which releases a white tape drawn across course, as the signal for the race to commence; reports disobedience of jockeys (888) (q.v.) to steward (race course) (q.v.); at ordinary athletic meeting, yacht race, etc., starts competitors by firing off gun or pistol.

steward (race course)

is appointed with others by race course executive to take charge of racing at a race meeting; has power to disqualify winning horses when an objection is raised; enquires into conduct of jockeys (888) (q.v.) racing at a meeting, and if found guilty of disobedience or reckless riding, has power to fine or suspend them; makes report to Jockey Club.

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From: A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921,
Ministry of Labour, 1927. Digitised by Peter Christian, August, 2016.   This text is in the Public Domain.