Captain Armstrong
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A form of cheating in which the jockey deliberately pulls his horse back so that it does not win.
Register: archaic, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"Poor child," he said to himself, all his angry feelings changing, "she seems to have set her heart so upon winning, it would be sad if she were disappointed. No one has much on it: shall I try Captain Armstrong for once? It would make her very happy. Bar accidents, I must win. They don't know that
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “Captain Armstrong” mean?
A form of cheating in which the jockey deliberately pulls his horse back so that it does not win.
Is “Captain Armstrong” formal or informal?
Captain Armstrong is generally archaic, slang.