From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstarting gateˈstarting gate noun [countable] DSHa gate or pair of gates that open to allow a horse or dog to start running in a race
Examples from the Corpus
starting gate• An important Hollywood Park race is run at the wrong distance after the starting gate is positioned incorrectly.• And John Henry was drawn on the outside in the starting gate at number 12.• His campaign never even left the starting gate.• The first man out of the starting gate today will swing and glide over a carpet of man-made snow 80 centimetres deep.• If your horse didn't make it to the starting gate, sorry, there's no refund. 