Originally Horse Racing. The final stage of a race; the home stretch. Cf. come-in, n.

a stretch (stretch, n. 8a) a quarter of a mile long, esp. the first or last quarter mile of a racecourse; (also) a race run over this.

= home stretch, n. Now chiefly British.

A frame of this kind used as a barrier to be cleared in races. Also plural: an athletic event consisting of a hurdle-race.

Chiefly U.S. home-stretch: see home stretch, n. back stretch = back-straight n. at back-, comb._form affix 2.

Chiefly Horse Racing. The stretch of a racetrack that leads to the finish line; = home straight, n. 1.

A straight portion, e.g. of a race-course (see quot. 1897), railway, or road; also figurative. straight of breadth (Nautical): see quot. 1846; bac…

the final circuit of a track, course, etc., to be completed in a race; (hence) the final stage of a journey, action, or enterprise.

A straight course in rowing or sailing. Also, a straight section of a road or racecourse, etc. Cf. straight, n. 3. Chiefly U.S.

The straight length of a racetrack that leads to the finish line; = home stretch, n. 1.

Chiefly U.S. Horse Racing. (See quot. 1895.) Also attributive (esp. = ‘home-stretch’) as stretch run, stretch turn.

(see straight, n. 3), the stretch along the side of a racecourse or stadium opposite to that in which the races end.

the wall: the point of onset of extreme fatigue reached by long-distance and marathon runners, at which the body's stores of energy are virtually…