The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word TURF
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
T
U
R
F
More clues leading to the result TURF
- Fruit brought up after one’s removed earth
- Such an accountant, earthy of course
- Horse-racing windfall leaving one taken aback
- Not one fruit compote, but 14
- Offspring once raised, I vacated territory
- Territory that’s under Russian flag, primarily
- Ducks out of tour of manor
- Newspaper covering sport backing racing
- Farmer’s opening furrow, turning sod
- Grass in furrow around front of field
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Horse-racing" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case horse-racing = turf.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TURF mean?
TURF noun- A layer of earth covered with grass; sod.
- A piece of such a layer cut from the soil. May be used as sod to make a lawn, dried for peat, stacked to form earthen structures, etc.
- A sod of peat used as fuel.
- The territory claimed by a person, gang, etc. as their own.
- (with "the") A racetrack; or the sport of racing horses.
- To cover with turf; to create a lawn by laying turfs.
- (Ultimate Frisbee) To throw a frisbee well short of its intended target, usually causing it to hit the ground within 10 yards of its release.
- To fire from a job or dismiss from a task.
- To cancel a project or product.
- To expel, eject, or throw out; to turf out.
- To transfer or attempt to transfer (a patient or case); to eschew or avoid responsibility for.