Pompano to debut Hummer starting gate Friday night

The first of its kind, a harness racing starting gate built from a Hummer, debuted at the Isle Casino & Racing at Pompano Park Friday morning for the track's qualifying races. The new Hummer starting gate will be used for the first time in a pari-mutuel race Friday night at the Isle Pompano.

The new starting gate was designed and built by Howard Starting Gate Company of Waynesfield, Ohio.  Steven Wolf, the senior director of racing operations at the Isle Pompano Park, came up with the concept of using a Hummer for a starting gate nearly two years ago.

The Hummer starting gate has two special features. The race starter sits very high and can see over the gate and view the entire field of horses and that there is room for up to three passengers, two seats next to the race starter and one next to the driver. The track is planning on having special drawings to allow patrons to ride in the Hummer starting gate.

"The view is just great,” said Isle Pompano Park starter Frank Dalton. “Instead of having to look through the screened area to see the horses, I can now see down on the field clearly and that will help a great deal in starting the races and seeing if any of the horsemen are having trouble before the start.”

"I think the Hummer was a good choice for it's size and capabilities and the starting gate worked out well being installed on it," said Pat Ridenour, owner of Howard Starting Gate Company. “It turned out very well, and will be comfortable for the driver, starter, and passengers. And it will be a very good vehicle for any track conditions. It was not harder to build than other gates, just different modifications. The special features with using a Hummer are the elevated view for the starter and passengers.” (with files from Pompano Park)

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