An answer: gates are variable size! (Destiny)

by Beorn , <End of Failed Timeline>, Tuesday, December 08, 2015, 18:22 (3368 days ago) @ Beorn

Okay, so the gates actually change size based on your performance! The tall pole is the anchor point, and the gate expands outward from it.

• If you’re in first, the gates are smaller, and if you’re lagging behind, the gates become larger
  
• Hitting gates after missing previous ones makes the next ones a little larger
  
• Hitting lots of gates makes the next ones smaller

It seems to be set up to keep people as grouped together as possible, which makes for fun racing!