The financial pain of handing back over $350 million in refunds this season has spurred the Jockey Club to formulate an antidote for its race-start blues. From now on, punters can expect to be given extra time to reassess and reinvest when a horse comes out at the barrier. To the end of February, 22 late scratchings precipitated refunds to punters of over $280 million. That number has since blown out to well over $350 million with a number of high-profile withdrawals at the barrier during March and April. Jockey Club director of racing Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said yesterday the chief steward had been given the right to delay the start, to allow extra betting time, when he considered it appropriate. 'The chief steward will have the flexibility, and it's unlikely he would hold up the start, for example, if a 99-1 chance was scratched,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said. 'We have also decided that a delay in the start of griffin races, where the horses are young and inexperienced, may not be appropriate either.' If a delay is effected, the assistant starter will signal it by waving a large, red-and-white checked flag. This procedure will take effect from Sunday's Sha Tin meeting. Research of betting patterns has revealed that the last race on Wednesday nights is almost always starting when the rate of investment is still on an upward spiral - a clear indication that punters are short of time to get set on what is always the biggest turnover race of the night. 'So we have decided to extend the gap between races seven and eight out to 35 minutes,' Engelbrecht-Bresges said.