E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Pulling.
A jockey trick, which used to be called “playing booty”—i.e. appearing to use every effort to come in first, but really determined to lose the race.
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“Mr. Kemble [in the Iron Chest] gave a slight touch of the jockey, and ‘played booty.’ He seemed to do justice to the play, but really ruined its success.”—George Colman the Younger.
