Origin of the checkered flag

[jreyesiii]

I just signed on as a guest member and have always found “Straight Dope” to be highly entertaining. I have search the message board and have not found a reference to this question.

I would like to know the origin of the checkered flag that is waved at the end of each race ?

I read that it started as a flag in bicycle races during the late 19th century in Europe. I also saw a photo of the checkered flag in use in the United States in 1908-1912? I think it was Watkins Glen.

Who or what group of people designed this flag and decided to wave it to mark the end of a race? and when.

Thanks in advance.

[Johnny_L.A]

Possible origins:

Origins of the Chequered Flag

The exact origins of the use of a chequered flag to end races are lost in history, although there are many theories. A possible though unlikely theory is that horse races during the early days of the settlement of the American Midwest were followed by large public meals and that to signal that the meals were ready and racing should come to an end, a chequered tablecloth was waved.

Another suggestion is that the chequered flag’s earliest known use was for 19th century bicycle races in France.

A more likely explanation is that a single-coloured flag would be more conspicuous against the background of a crowd, especially when early races were run on dirt tracks (and therefore dust reduced the driver’s visibility).

The earliest known photographic record of a chequered flag being used to end a race was from Long Island, New York in 1904.