Possible Clues:

• Poor competitor pulled out of final so rancorously
• Non-winning horse
• Miss Congeniality, e.g.
• Horse back in the pack, e.g.
• Third-place finisher, e.g.
• Not placed in first three finishers
• Stood for office too, but was unplaced
• Perot, e.g.
• A competitor not doing well in either finals or annual exams
• Unplaced racehorse