Hands_down

Slowly, deliberately, Elias lowered his hands. He relaxed his grip on the leather reins, letting them go slack against Cinder’s neck. It was a sign of total trust. Without the constant tension of the bit, Cinder didn’t slow down; she stretched her neck further, her stride becoming long and effortless.

The championship race was a blur of mud and thunder. By the final turn, the pack was thinning. Elias felt Cinder’s muscles bunch beneath him, a living engine of heat and heart. As they rounded the bend into the homestretch, the leading stallion stumbled—just a fraction—and Cinder saw her opening. hands_down

Elias was not the fastest jockey at the Briarwood Derby, but he was certainly the most patient. His horse, a stubborn chestnut mare named Cinder, had a habit of fighting the bit. Most riders would saw at the reins, forcing her into submission, but Elias knew that Cinder only ran her best when she felt she was choosing the path herself. Slowly, deliberately, Elias lowered his hands

Where does the expression 'hands down' come from? - The Week Without the constant tension of the bit, Cinder