| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chased leaders | Running directly behind the horses in front of the field. |
| Pushed along | The jockey started to urge the horse (hand-riding, not necessarily using the whip). |
| just held | The horse's powerful late run was not quite enough, and it lost the race by the narrowest possible margin (e.g., a nose or short head). |
| Kept on | The horse maintained its speed well to the finish. |