Historical clue formulations

• ___ to the finish — 2014-01-05
• ___ to the top — 2014-01-02
• "It's ___ to the finish" — 2006-07-30
• "It's ___ against time" — 2003-08-14
• "It's ___ against time" — 2001-12-07
• In ___ to the finish — 2000-12-15
• "It's___to the finish" — 1996-02-18
• _____ to the finish — 1994-08-14