| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pushed along | The jockey started to urge the horse (hand-riding, not necessarily using the whip). |
| Stayed on | Continued to finish but without closing the gap significantly. |
| Made all | Led the race from start to finish. |
| held on | The horse managed to maintain its lead and win the race by a narrow margin. |
| gamely | The ultimate descriptor for a horse that wins bravely and resolutely after a tough battle. |