1825. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks and worthy cousin
trumps, permit me to introduce a brother of the togati.
1864. Glasgow Herald, 5 April. ‘Report of R. N. Y. Club.’ This
vessel (one of Fyfe’s cracks) being almost new, and coppered, will
be free from the objectionable fouling which is so great a drawback
to the use of iron yachts.
1871. London Figaro, 17 Oct. Does it mean that the crack is a thing
of the past, and that the learned author is no longer to be
considered as a crack?
1889. Answers, March 23, p. 265, col. 3. Warders are not, thank
goodness, first-rate shots, but even a crack would find it
difficult to hit a man’s head appearing for only a moment or two in
probably a heavy fog.
8. (turf).—A racehorse eminent for speed. Hunting: a famous ‘mount.’
[An extension of the usage in sense 7.]
1853. Diogenes, II., 271. ‘The Betting Boy’s Lament.’ Cesarewitch,
Cambridgeshire now No longer for me have a charm; the cracks may be
ranged in a row, But for me they’ve no fear nor alarm.
1864. Derby Day, p. 38. Sir Bridges Sinclair would not scratch a
horse—no, not if it was ever so, let alone a Derby crack.
1871. Standard, 6 Nov. Unlimited gossip as to the welfare and
chances of forthcoming cracks.
1883. The Echo, Feb. 7, p. 3, col. 6. I give below a few of the
probable starters for the Waterloo Cup, including all the cracks.
1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 155. Of course he was
au courant with all the rumours concerning the Panton Lodge crack.