Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in horseracing tracks and in particular to achieving "fail-safe" handicapped "flying starts" in horseracing, comprising of a racetrack at least a part of which may be divided into a plurality of discrete, adjoining running lanes, and said running lanes are separated by barrier rails 3, and starting gates 4 are attached to the barrier rails, characterized by separate acceleratable automatically-operable starting gates 4 which may be placed at equal distance race starting positions or at different distance handicapped race starting positions relative to a winning post for each competing horse in its own running lane, linear induction motors are provided to cause the plurality of starting gates to be moved forward in precise unison at a predetermined rate of acceleration with each competing horse following its own starting gate in its own running lane, the arrangement being such that, when the starting gates simultaneously arrive at a preselected race starting position in e