A New Starting Gate, Daily Racing Form, 1901-09-27

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A NEW STARTING GATE. , Truly nothing ib being allowed to pass these days, which may in the slightest degree be an improvement on any of the existing surroundings of racing. Great a boon as the starting barrier has been in the saving of time shown by the time of the last race as compared with ten years ago on the tracks of the present day it has not been accepted aB entirely successful by many horsemen. Of late this haB been rather intensified by the rattle-headed boys at the post being so anxious to get off in front that they have fre-quentlydaahed through the old strip of webbing tangling up the horse, several times being dragged bodily from tho saddle, and once or twice caught round the neck, which gave them a good idea of the horrors of decapitation by inches. Thus.: an improvement was looked for, and haB evidently been found, to some extent, in the barrier used at Sheepshead during the current CONTINUED OH BB0O1jSlSfejjE A NEW STARTING GATE. j Continued from First Page. meeting. It is simple, quick, easily dodged and apparently effective. The mechanism consists of two uprights, one each side of tho track, on each sido of which is balanced a rigid arm held parallel to the course over which the horses run. From the lower ond of this stretches what might be an extra light tennis net, which is hold fairly taught by guys or leaders running up a main guy or cord which runs from rigid polo to pole parallel with the net, but from tho higher end. Tho balance of the device is perfect and it is operated by two men, one at each Bide of tho track, who hold a pulley rope in their hands. The slightest pull sends the barrier upward and outward from the moving horses, and it responds immediately. Should a wild horse charge the obstacle it will not catch the boy or horse, or break, but will slide over his neck. The starter holds an electric button in his hand, and when the gong sounds the men haul on the pulleys, and the barrier flies up. So far as Been it is a distinct improvement on the old plan, obviates entanglements and saves time in reflxing the broken webbing, even if not materially better all around. Spirit of the Times.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1901092701/drf1901092701_1_4
Local Identifier: drf1901092701_1_4
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800