How Horse Racing Shaped the Way We Speak
Dark horse. Down to the wire. Photo finish.
These aren’t just racing terms—they’re the language of life, competition, and culture.

In this special Lexiconned bonus episode, TJ heads to the track—linguistically speaking—to explore 12 iconic phrases that began at the races but ended up everywhere else.

From political campaigns to product launches, these metaphors shape how we think about odds, momentum, and last-minute victories.

And with the Kentucky Derby as our backdrop, this is one episode that truly goes the distance.

Don't forget to check out the podcast Short Pour

Sources

• Disraeli, Benjamin. The Young Duke (1831) – First use of “dark horse”
• Library of Congress – U.S. Presidential Election Archives
• Oxford English Dictionary – Entries for “neck and neck,” “long shot,” “front-runner,” “post time,” “photo finish,” etc.
• New York Clipper (1850s–1870s) – Early racing journalism
• Chicago Daily Tribune (1890s) – “Down to the wire” in print
• Harper’s Weekly (1858) – “Homestretch” usage in racing
• New York Times Archives (1896) – “Also-ran” in sports coverage
• Louisville Courier-Journal (1925) – Bill Corum coins “Run for the Roses”
• Racing Post (2020) – “Camera Ready: The History of the Photo Finish”
• National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame – Historical records
• Merriam-Webster – First recorded uses of key phrases
• Brooklyn Daily Eagle (1905) – “Off to the races” early figurative use
• Congressional Records (1916) – “In the homestretch” political usage
• Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Archives – “Win, Place, Show” history

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