The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word CLASSICS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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More clues leading to the result CLASSICS
- Female in charge in Civil Service works in traditional library?
- Prestigious races that you might study?
- Form 1 starts to consider some well-known books
- Latin Derby and Greek Oaks?
- Something read thus in lecture
- Unfashionable subject’s popular favourites
- Form is stocked with 100 great books
- Course for important horse races
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Prestigious races/that you might study" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case prestigious races/that you might study = classics.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 CLASSICS mean?
CLASSICS noun- A perfect and/or early example of a particular style.
- An artistic work of lasting worth, such as a film or song.
- The author of such a work.
- A major, long-standing sporting event
- One learned in the literature of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome; a student of classical literature.
- The study of Ancient Greek and Latin, their literature, history, etc., sometimes inclusive of the study of the ancient Mediterranean generally.