Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

prominent, lost position and pushed along , soon

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
halfway	The horse was patiently ridden up to the middle point

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 patiently ridden up to the middle point