elecrical problems

Put key into the ignition, turn the key, everything goes dead. At first you think its the
battery. You try it again and sometimes more than one try it will start. No problems
running. It may go for a while, then it will do it again. The battery is less than a year
old. Lately it does the same thing but it will start then die,each time you try to start it.
After a few times of trying to start (2 or3) I raced the engine and it will keep running.