| PHOTOFINISH | Incredibly close end to a race -- or a feature of the three theme entries (2 wds.) |
| BROKENBAT | Result of some swings in baseball -- you can find one in each of the theme entries (2 wds.) |
| ETHNIC | Relating to a race or national group of people (6) |
| ANDME | 23___ (company whose name is illustrated at the start of our theme entries' two words, since W is the 23rd letter of the alphabet) |
| RICEKRISPIES | Cereal whose sounds are made by the three starred entries (2 wds.) |
| ANARMANDALEG | What something expensive may be said to cost...and what each of the three theme entries features (5 wds.) |
| CATCHSOMEZS | Snooze, or what each of the three theme entries does (3 wds.) |
| PHOTO | Close end to a race, --- finish |
| SUBWAYS | Transport systems that begin each of the three theme answers |
| NEVER | With 39-Across and 49-Across, rule broken by the three theme entries' first and last two letters |
| BUMP | A jolt; a swelling; a sleeping policeman; a knock of a boat in a rowing race; or, a customary throw or lift in the air of a birthday boy or girl (4) |
| MARK | A boundary indicator; a symbol such as an X in place of a signature; the start line in a race; or, a target (4) |
| HEAT | Spicy quality of a chilli; preliminary eliminating round in a race; or, a form of thermal or kinetic energy (4) |
| TELEVANGELIST | T.D. Jakes or Jerry Falwell, e.g.; like our other three theme entries, this is a "portmanteau word," combining letters and meanings of two words to form a third |
| POST | A stake or upright marking the start or finish of a horse race; or, a collection or delivery of mail (4) |
| SCURRY | Word, from "bustle, confusion, hurly-burly", for the frantic haste or scudding pace of a horse in a short sprint or race; or, a squirrel or mouse's speedy scampering during a chase (6) |
| SELECTION | A musical potpourri; an anthology; a horse tipped as likely to win a race; or, a range of items from which one may choose (9) |
| HOMESTRETCH | Last leg of a race ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| FINISH | End of a race; or, a treatment for wood, such as wax, oil or shellac (6) |
| TAPE | Thin strip stretched across the finishing line of a race; or, a word linked with measure for an item found in a sewing basket (4) |
