Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

never better than mid-division, after 3 out, before 2 out, before last

Matched phrases & meanings

Phrase	Meaning
Mid-division	Running in the middle of the pack.
Never better	The horse was always near the front and was never in a worse position than it finished in.
tailed off	A definitive statement that the horse was finished and effectively out of the race
Weakened	The horse lost speed and dropped back through the field.

Summary

Running in the middle of the pack.
The horse was always near the front and was never in a worse position than it finished in.
A definitive statement that the horse was finished and effectively out of the race
The horse lost speed and dropped back through the field.