Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

took keen hold in rear, headway well over 2f out, soon pushed along, over 1f out

Matched phrases & meanings

Phrase	Meaning
Pushed along	The jockey started to urge the horse (hand-riding, not necessarily using the whip).
Weakened	The horse lost speed and dropped back through the field.
Headway	The horse was moving up through the field.
Rear	Running near the back of the field.
Keen	The horse was fighting the jockey, wasting energy early.

Summary

The jockey started to urge the horse (hand-riding, not necessarily using the whip).
The horse lost speed and dropped back through the field.
The horse was moving up through the field.
Running near the back of the field.
The horse was fighting the jockey, wasting energy early.