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Other proposed innovations for old Belmont: 1) a tote board and other machinery necessary for pari-mutuel betting; 2) reduction of grandstand admission; 3) descriptions of the races through a loudspeaker to help novice railbirds follow their horses; 4) installation of the recently invented Puett Gate (rental $100 a day)—an electric starting gate similar to the type now used at most U. S. tracks except that the horses are locked in (front and back), sent off when the starter presses an electric button releasing the knees-to-nose front doors.
Considered the greatest race track improvement of the past decade, the Puett Gate was used for the first time in Canada last summer. In 400 races no horse was left at the post and only two broke slowly. Last month, however, when progressive President Vanderbilt tried out the Puett Gate at Pimlico, a horse named Dixieland was left at the post when his stall gate failed to open. To the pleased astonishment of the fans, the $6,000 wagered on Dixieland was refunded.
* Belmont races of less than 1½ miles start on the backstretch extension, to avoid starting on a curve. Since most U. S. races are at a mile or less, the majority of U. S. tracks are one mile around.