To win hands down
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Win easily without any additional effort
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Win in a secret manner without your opponent's knowledge
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Win without acknowledging those who helped you win.
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Win by bribing the officials
To win hands down originates from horse racing, where a jockey who is so far ahead that they don't need to urge their horse forward can drop their hands and still win. The phrase now means to win easily and decisively without any struggle or need for extra effort. It does not involve secrecy, ingratitude, or bribery - it's purely about ease of victory.
'To win hands down' is an idiom meaning to win very easily, with little or no effort or struggle, often by a wide margin. It has nothing to do with secrecy, bribery, or failing to credit helpers — those are unrelated meanings.