Pop Pop Crowley was a professional jockey back in the days before cameras. He was a "little" unorthodox but very competitive. In the early 1900's he was a well-known Steeplechase jockey and road for the Widener Family.
When the race was about to start, all horses and riders would "jockey" for position at the starting line which was marked by a "Post" on either end of the line. Hence, the expression "To The Post!" announced by the starter through a megaphone. My grandfather, Frederick Aloysious Crowley would purposefully disrupt the start by banging his horse into the others to drive them away from the line. All the while he would be watching for the starting gun or signal and, when he heard it, quickly turn his horse to the start and get the jump on the other riders! Nice going Pop Pop!
Many years later, I watched my own father do the same thing at the starting line of several sailing events in the various boats we owned and sometimes raced. I never knew if it was a deliberate act, a genetic pre-disposition, or just bad sailing. Lessons from the Dads over the years...
