An Improved Apparatus to be Used for Starting Races.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus to be Used for Starting Races.
A communication from ALEXANDER GRAY, Horsetrainer, of Mount Street,
Canterbury, in the Colony of New South Wales.
I Alfred JuliUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention is specially designed for use in starting horse races, and consists of
a barricade that extends across the race track, in front of the horses, and of
appliances in connection therewith whereby the barricade can be instantly removed.
The barricade consists of two side frames, from which, wires, tapes, or other
suitable material are stretched across the track.
Each side frame of the barricade is secured to or forms part of a sliding block
that can be caused to slide or run rapidly up an inclined slide by any suitable
means.
The slides incline upward, ahead of, and from the horses, their lower ends being
about four feet from the ground, and their upper ends at an elevation sufficient to
carry the barricade to such a height as to be clear of the jockeys heads as they pass
under.
Each sliding block is held at its lower position by means of a trigger or other
suitable contrivance, and both triggers are arranged so that they can be operated
simultaneously.
Suitable contrivances are employed whereby a tension can be produced upon the
tapes of the barricade when at its lower or "set" position.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of my improved apparatus.
Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a front elevation of the same.
Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is an enlarged detail view shewing the barricade set.
Fig. 4, Sheet 3, is a plan of the same.
Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a similar detail to Fig. 3 but viewed from inside.
A Aare the vertical side frames of the barricade. a are the tapes, or other
suitable material, the ends of which are secured to the side frames A A¹.
This barricade stretches across the race track at the starting post.
Each of the side frames A. A' is secured to or forms part of a sliding block or
runner B B that slides or runs upon parallel inclined slides, one of which is fixed
at each side of the race track, and both slides incline upward, ahead of, and from
the horses.
I. will describe one slide only as both are identical.
C, the inclined slide, is preferably a metal rod. The lower end of the slide C is
secured to an upright D, about four feet above the ground. The upper end is
secured to another upright E at an elevation sufficient to allow the jockeys to pass
clear under the barricade when it is slid up.
The slide rod C can be tautened by the screws d. Springs or counterweights are
provided to cause the barricade to slide rapidly up the slides C C at the starting
signal, the means adopted in the drawings consist of long indiarubber springs, F FI
G G are triggers or catches that engage with projections g g' on the sliding
blocks B B and retain the barricade at its lower position in front of the horses.

page_text: The triggers are operated simultaneously and the barricade released in any con-
venient manner, that shewn in the drawings consists of a couple of cords hh' one
of which his led through fairleads; overhead.
The tapes a hang comparatively slack after the barricade is released ;
facilitates the rapidity of upward motion of the barricade.
this
In order to tauten the tapes a in front of the horses, each upright D D' is provided
with an antifriction roller or rollers K K' which engage with the inner sides of the
side frames A A', when the barricade is at its lowest position. The effect of this
engagement is to spread the side frames A A' farther apart and thereby produce a
tension on the tapes a.
Guide wires JJ' may be fixed parallel to the slides C C¹ in order to prevent the
side frames A A¹ canting.
The mode of operation is as follows-
The barricade being at its highest position and with slack tapes, as shewn by
dotted lines in Figs. 1 & 2, is hauled down its slides until the side frames A A¹
engage with the antifriction rollers K K' which spread the side frames apart and
tauten the tapes in front of the horses. The triggers then fall into place and retain
the barricade in its set position with the springs F F1 in extension. At the word,
the cords operate the triggers and the barricade being released is instantly slid
upwards out of the way.
The uprights D D & E E' are provided with suitable stays m & guys n whereby
the whole structure can be rigidly set up.
If found necessary the upwardly sliding barricade can be caused to operate a flag
denoting the start.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is-
1. In apparatus for starting races, a pair of slides fixed parallel, one on each side
of the race track and inclined upwards, ahead of, and from the competitors in com-
bination with a light barricade similar to that described, and with springs or
counterweights and with catches or triggers all as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
2. In apparatus for starting races, a barricade that is capable of being moved on
slides or guides in an upwardly inclined direction, ahead of, and from the competitors
as herein specified.
3. In apparatus for starting races the combination of a pair of slides fixed one on
each side of the race track and inclined upwards, ahead of, and from the competitors,
a barricade such as that described, springs or counterweights, means for retaining
the barricade in its lowest position, and with means for tautening the tapes of the
barricade when at its lowest position all as herein specified.
4. In apparatus for starting races, the particular means adopted for tautening the
tapes of the barricade when at its lowest position, consisting of antifriction rollers
that are caused to engage with the side frames of the barricade and spread them
apart as described and as illustrated in the drawings.
5. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts constituting
my improved apparatus for starting races as herein described.
Dated this 5th day of November 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.