chequered flag

A black-and-white checkered flag, the universal symbol for finishing a race — used literally for motorsports/running content and figuratively to mean "the finish line," "mission accomplished," or "final stretch" of any project. The checkered pattern's exact origin is debated, but one popular (if unproven) theory ties it to 19th-century American county fairs using checkered tablecloths to mark finish lines at horse races.