selling-plater

American  

[sel-ing-pley-ter] / ˈsɛl ɪŋˌpleɪ tər /

noun

1. a horse that competes in a selling race; an inferior horse.

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selling-plater British  

noun

1. a horse that competes, or is only good enough to compete, in a selling race

2. a person or thing of limited ability or value

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Etymology

Origin of selling-plater

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

You've got to admit that Al Engle was smart as they make 'em, but O'Connor tells me that Curry made Al look like a selling-plater: had him outguessed at every turn on the track.

From Old Man Curry Race Track Stories by Van Loan, Charles E. (Charles Emmett)

The programme showed that Brown had an entry in the last race—Remorse, an aged selling-plater.

From Checkers A Hard-luck Story by Blossom, Henry M.

The plug had belonged to the best of the Western selling-plater division as a three- and four-year-old and he had been in a few stakes at that.

From Taking Chances by Cullen, Clarence L.

“Say, do you see that horse out there?”—and he pointed to a selling-plater, up at the head of the stretch, which was being warmed up by a stable-boy.

From Young Wallingford by Chester, George Randolph