devil take the hindmost, the

In the elimination, or 'devil take the hindmost', the last rider across the line every other lap is pulled out until just two remaint to contest the final sprint.

Let the devil take the hindmost; the three or four hindmost if you will; nay, all but those strong-running horses who can force themselves into noticeable places under the judge's eye.

Doctrines like "Property is but Robbery," "Everyone for himself and the devil take the hindmost," the "Iron Law of Wages" and the "Facts is Facts" of the Gradgrinds were the phrases of the nineteenth century that assisted.