starting gate

In short, I feel put on the spot, and come up lame right out of the starting-gate.

Kerrey hasn't exactly blasted his way out of the starting gate.

Our seats afforded a fine view of the 20 3-year-olds breaking from the starting gate.

Through a maze of heat, a half-mile distant, at the starting-gate, little spots of color moved in impatient circles.

I patted Tapwater's flank, and so help me Newton, I think that one gentle tap pushed the colt half way to the starting gate!

Then, amid a murmur of excitement, the starting-gate went up, and the horses were off.

He drilled every last one of his two-year-olds till the starting gate was no more to them than so much steel and wood and webbing.

So, perfectly calm and very much bored, he danced to the starting-gate on the chestnut filly.