| MOTHER | She's "in first place" vis-a-vis the answers to the starred clues |
| CUTTINGTHECARDS | Part of a blackjack dealer's ritual ... or what this answer is doing vis-a-vis the answers to the starred clues |
| ATOP | In first place, vis-a-vis the standings |
| ANYTAKERS | "Who's interested?" ... or, phonetically, what four answers in this puzzle are vis-a-vis the answers next to them |
| COMPOUND | With 49-Across, bad break ... and what each answer to a starred clue creates vis-a-vis the answers t |
| GANTRIES | Supports attempts to back a horse to come in first place |
| DREWIN | Lured Red Rum to pass the post in first place (4,2) |
| LIMEADE | The setter's in first place to get drug and drink (7) |
| LEASHED | Like a dog perhaps, she is in first place |
| LEAD | 'English Boy,' on the outside, is in first place (4) |
| PAELLA | In first place, girl had a popular Spanish dish (6) |
| EARDRUM | A racehorse with energy in first place, one hears (7) |
| AROMA | In first place, although really only maybe by a nose (5) |
| NOTCH | Score, in first place, nine over the closing holes |
| INSPECT | Examine a beetle, say, getting in first place (7) |
| BEST | Some have to be starting off in first place (4) |
| ALONE | ___ in first place (leading the division) |
| NOI | In first place, in brief |
| TRITE | Hackneyed ceremony to start in first place |
| GOESFORTHEGOLD | Tries to finish in first place |
