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Synonyms

horse race

American  

noun

  • horse races
    plural
  1. a contest of speed among horses that either are ridden by jockeys or pull sulkies and their drivers.

  2. any formidable contest or competition.

    The primary election is expected to be a horse race among four opponents.


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Welcome to this week’s edition of the Surge, Slate’s weekly politics newsletter for closely monitoring the horse race between Trump’s approval rating and the Washington, D.C., temperature in Celsius.

From Slate Aug. 1, 2026

For example, there have been no debates and none are planned at the moment, and the lack of polling means that horse race coverage is nonexistent.

From Salon Jun. 4, 2026

Maybe value can continue to beat growth, but there are speedier steeds in the investing-factor horse race.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 9, 2026

And so began their journey as what Islas calls “horse parents” — a journey that has taken them to the brink of starting a horse in the world’s most famous horse race.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 4, 2026

Oh yes, there were plenty to aid and abet him; even he could not have held a horse race without someone to race against.

From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner

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