A dark horse is a person, in regard to a certain field, sport, political race etc., whose experience and abilities are unknown but who could unexpectedly win or achieve success over others; an unknown and unexpected winner of a race or other contest.
Commonly used in phrases such as:
- A real dark horse
- Dark horse contender
- Emerging as a dark horse
Sentence Examples
“Having never won a race, she was a dark horse to win the Gold Medal in the 100 meters.”
“This year’s dark horse in the state Senate race is Roger Elliot, a former school teacher who has never held public office.”
“While the seasoned tech giants dominated the headlines, a small startup from Estonia emerged as the dark horse of the conference, stealing the show with their revolutionary AI prototype.”
“…the only fighter missing from the event was dark horse entry Tommy Riordan. Recent revelations that Riordan was not only a United States Marine, but a hero in the Iraq War, has cast an even brighter spotlight…” — Warrior (2011)
“In all my years of racing, I’ve never seen a driver with this much raw talent, but what’s this? Out of nowhere, a dark horse is challenging Gagné. He’s gaining on the pack. And down the front stretch.” — Turbo (2013)
“Ballots are out. Looks like Terminal Taylor’s got herself a little dark horse competition in the form of the falafel fairy herself.’ — She’s All That (1999)
“So, here it is one more time, the dark horse for this year’s Christmas number one, Christmas Is All Around. Thank you, Billy. After this, the news.” — Love Actually (2003)
Video Presentation
Origin Of Dark Horse
In horse racing during the 1800’s, the term dark horse originally meant a horse entered into a race about which little was known and was not expected to win. Such a horse was difficult to handicap.
There is a colorful story about the origin of the term, in which a horse trader with a winning racehorse secretly disguised the horse as an ordinary workhorse, resulting in long odds and big betting wins when the horse would unexpectedly win the race. It is also claimed that owners would dye their horses a dark color in order to hide their identity.
In reality, the ‘dark’ in the expression didn’t refer to the color of the animal’s coat, but rather to its ‘dark’ (hidden) history. It was a horse whose past performance was kept in the dark to prevent bookmakers from accurately setting the odds.
The first known use of the term in this context was in Benjamin Disraeli’s novel The Young Duke, from 1831:
“A dark horse which had never been thought of, and which the careless St. James had never even observed in the list, rushed past the grandstand in sweeping triumph.”
When Benjamin Disraeli wrote this line, he was describing the high-stakes world of the British aristocracy. At the time, horse racing was the primary social arena where reputations (and fortunes) were made or lost.
Disraeli’s novel was so popular that the term leaped from fiction into real-world political reporting. By the mid-1800s, British journalists began using the idiom to describe back-bench Members of Parliament who suddenly rose to prominence.
Only 13 years later, the term was being used in American political races and was applied to unknown political candidates such as James K. Polk, a surprise Democratic nominee from Tennessee who unexpectedly won the 1844 Presidential election.
The Katy Perry Confusion
While the 2013 Katy Perry hit song Dark Horse brought the term back into the pop-culture spotlight, it also created a bit of linguistic confusion. In the song and its accompanying music video, Perry uses “idiom” to describe someone mysterious, dangerous, or even magical, a “dark” figure in the sinister sense.
However, this is the opposite of the idiom’s true meaning. The idiom doesn’t describe someone who is dangerous or “witchy”; they are simply an unknown underdog. If the song were literally accurate, it would be about a girl in the background who nobody expected to win the guy’s heart, not a powerful queen at the center of attention. Perry’s version confuses “dark” (mysterious/hidden) with “dark” (sinister), whereas the original idiom is purely about being an unobserved contender.
The George Harrison Contrast
While modern pop versions often miss the mark, the idiom was used perfectly by George Harrison for his 1974 song and album, Dark Horse. Harrison explicitly used the racing metaphor to describe his own life and career as he navigated the transition from “The Quiet Beatle” to a solo artist forming his own label (suitably named Dark Horse Records).
In his 1980 autobiography, I Me Mine, Harrison recalled being inspired by the phrase he heard as a child in Liverpool:
“I always remember them saying… ‘Oh, she’s a dark horse.’ It was always that sort of thing… I thought, ‘I’m a dark horse. OK, I’m running on a dark racecourse.'”
Unlike later interpretations that confused “dark” with “sinister,” Harrison correctly identified the “horse” as a solitary, unobserved contender who continues to run their own race despite being ignored by the “front-runners.
Billboard Receipts and Chart Performance
Despite having “voice troubles” (laryngitis) at the time, which led some critics to jokingly call the album Dark Hoarse, the record was a massive commercial success in the United States.
- Billboard 200: The album Dark Horse was a “heavy hitter,” peaking at No. 4 on the charts on January 11, 1975.
- Billboard Hot 100: The lead single reached No. 15, proving that the American public understood Harrison’s “unexpected contender” persona even when critics were mixed.
- The Metaphor: In the lyrics, Harrison correctly identifies the dark horse as a solitary, unobserved contender: “I’m a dark horse / Running on a lonely line / I’m a dark horse / Taking a rest from the pace.” —
Is a Dark Horse a Compliment?
Yes, being called a dark horse is generally considered a compliment. It suggests that while you were previously overlooked or underestimated, you possess hidden talents or a level of competence that has the potential to surprise everyone. It acknowledges your status as a formidable contender without the burden of being the ‘favored’ choice.
What is a Dark Horse Personality?
A dark horse personality refers to someone who is naturally quiet, unassuming, and strategic while being private about their ambitions and talents. Unlike those who are open, talkative, and perhaps boastful about their achievements, such a person operates beneath the radar, focusing on consistent self-improvement without seeking external validation. Because they are always focused on self-improvement, these individuals are constantly looking for ways to raise the bar in their respective fields. Key traits include:
- Quiet Confidence: They don’t feel the need to prove themselves until it’s time to perform.
- Hidden Depth: They often possess high-level skills or knowledge that they only reveal when necessary.
- Strategic Silence: They prefer to let their results speak for them, often leading others to underestimate their potential.”
What is the difference between a Dark Horse and an Underdog?
While often confused, a dark horse and an underdog represent two different types of competitors:
- The Underdog: This is a known competitor who is clearly identified and expected to lose. Everyone knows who they are and what they can do, but they are simply outmatched by a stronger opponent.
- The Dark Horse: This is a competitor whose true abilities and history are unknown or hidden from the public. While an underdog’s struggle is visible, a dark horse is a “surprise” because they were never even on the radar to begin with.
Other Terms Similar to Dark Horse
While several terms are often used interchangeably with dark horse, they each carry a specific nuance that sets them apart:
- Sleeper: Often used in sports or fantasy drafts, a ‘sleeper’ is a talented player or team that the general public is ignoring. While a dark horse is unknown, a sleeper is known but undervalued.
- Long Shot: This term comes from the betting odds. A long shot has a very low statistical probability of winning, whereas a dark horse might actually be quite strong, people just don’t know it yet.
- Hidden Gem: Used more for objects, places, or talent than for competitions. It implies something of high quality that hasn’t been ‘discovered’ by the mainstream.
- Breakout Candidate: Often used for a person poised for a sudden, massive increase in fame or success, regardless of whether they are in a specific ‘race.’
- Outsider: Unlike a dark horse, who is simply unknown to the public, an outsider is someone who is known but exists outside the established “inner circle” of a particular field or organization. In politics, an outsider is a candidate who hasn’t held office or isn’t part of the party establishment. Every dark horse is technically an outsider at first, but not every outsider is a dark horse.
Further Reading: The High Stakes of the Game
- A Shoo-In: While a dark horse is an unexpected contender, a shoo-in is the absolute favorite who is practically guaranteed to win. Discover how this term moved from the racetrack to the voting booth.
- On the Ball: To avoid being overtaken by a dark horse, a front-runner needs to stay “on the ball.” Learn the sporting origins of this term for being alert and competent.
- Step Up to the Plate: Every dark horse eventually has to face the moment of truth. Explore this baseball idiom about taking responsibility and performing when the pressure is on.
- Play Hardball: In the world of politics, dark horse candidates often find that their opponents are willing to “play hardball” to keep their lead.
- Raise the Bar: When a dark horse emerges and succeeds, they often “raise the bar” for everyone else in the field. Trace the high-jump origins of this common expression.