Apparatus for starting horse races and method and means for manual and remote control thereof

Apparatus for controlling the vision pattern of a horse comprising:

• (a) a hood adapted to be mounted on the head of a horse and having apertures therein corresponding in position to the position of the eyes of the horse whereby when said hood is placed on the horse's head, said apertures surround the horse's eyes;
• (b) blinder means associated with each of said apertures and manipulable from a fully open position in which the horse's vision pattern is unrestricted to a fully closed position in which the associated aperture is covered and the vision pattern of the horse is cut off;
• (c) means on said hood operatively associated with said blinders for manually releasably latching said blinders in closed condition and including electrically operated means for releasing said blinders whereby said blinders are retracted into a position in which said apertures are uncovered and the vision pattern of the horse is restored;
• and
• (d) means remote from said electrically operated means for releasing said blinders selectively operable to energize said electrically operated means to effect unlatching of said blinders to effect release thereof for return to their fully open position.