Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

mid-division, pushed along and from 8th, late from last

Matched phrases & meanings

Phrase	Meaning
Pushed along	The jockey started to urge the horse (hand-riding, not necessarily using the whip).
Mid-division	Running in the middle of the pack.
Outpaced	Could not keep up with faster horses mid-race.
Headway	The horse was moving up through the field.

Summary

The jockey started to urge the horse (hand-riding, not necessarily using the whip).
Running in the middle of the pack.
Could not keep up with faster horses mid-race.
The horse was moving up through the field.