Distance (general terms)
The length of a race: 5 furlongs is the minimum and the 4 1/2
miles of the Grand National the longest. Also, the margin by
which a horse wins or is beaten by the horse in front: this
ranges from a short head to 'by a distance' (more than 30 lengths);
a 'length' is measured from the horse's nose to the start of
its tail.
