winning margin; difference in finishing times
Used in racing contexts, especially horse racing, where the margin is often expressed in lengths. The term refers to the gap between competitors at the finish.
The winning margin in that race was just a nose.
The larger the winning margin, the more the winning horse's strength stands out.
Compound of 着 (arrival, finish) and 差 (difference). The term is used in racing to denote the margin between competitors at the finish.