Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

close up in 11th, pushed along and 11th,

Matched phrases & meanings

Phrase	Meaning
Pushed along	The jockey started to urge the horse (hand-riding, not necessarily using the whip).
tailed off	A definitive statement that the horse was finished and effectively out of the race
lost touch	The horse was struggling severely and the jockey was losing hope
Close up	Running very near the leaders (usually 2nd, 3rd, or 4th).
Rear	Running near the back of the field.

Summary

The jockey started to urge the horse (hand-riding, not necessarily using the whip).
A definitive statement that the horse was finished and effectively out of the race
The horse was struggling severely and the jockey was losing hope
Running very near the leaders (usually 2nd, 3rd, or 4th).
Running near the back of the field.