Definition of off the bit in English:
off the bit
phrase
(of a horse) ridden on a loose rein to allow it to gallop freely, especially at the end of a race.
‘Most of the runners are off the bridle while Shergar is cantering.’- ‘Norman knew he would stay and even though he was a bit off the bridle round the turn he just kept on galloping.’
- ‘He was the first horse off the bridle, but he kept coming on ground which certainly wasn't ideal for him.’
- ‘‘He came off the bit,’ Johnson said of Perfect Drift's momentary pause.’
- ‘At home, he'd only work as well as the horse beside him but we'd never take him off the bridle at home either.’
- ‘Nicky Richard's horse looked like winning last time over this course and distance, but did not find as much as expected off the bridle.’
- ‘But, not for the first time, he didn't find a lot off the bridle and was a length adrift at the line.’
- ‘He was making a bit of a run coming to the turn, but when Frankie Dettori shifted out, we ended up copping a bit of a bump, just when I was letting Media Puzzle off the bit, and that was the end of us.’
- ‘Unfortunately I got trapped behind Royal Rebel for a while, when he was on and off the bridle a bit, but five out I got on the tail of Westerner and followed him.’
- ‘Just over two furlongs out he sneaked a glance behind and the sight of everything else off the bridle was all he needed.’
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