Race Comment Explainer

Original comment with matches highlighted:

tracked leader, pressed winner and ridden final ,

Matched phrases & meanings

Phrase	Meaning
Tracked leader	Followed closely behind the leaders.
just held	The horse's powerful late run was not quite enough, and it lost the race by the narrowest possible margin (e.g., a nose or short head).
Furlong	Unit of distance; one furlong is 1/8 of a mile (approx. 200 meters).

Summary

Followed closely behind the leaders.
The horse's powerful late run was not quite enough, and it lost the race by the narrowest possible margin (e.g., a nose or short head).
Unit of distance; one furlong is 1/8 of a mile (approx. 200 meters).