Beats records after a false start (5)
I believe the answer is:
flogs
'beats' is the definition.
(flogging is a kind of beating)
'records after a false start' is the wordplay.
'records' becomes 'logs' (logging is a kind of recording).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'start' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'false' is 'f'.
'logs' after 'f' is 'FLOGS'.
(Other definitions for flogs that I've seen before include "Sells (sl.)" , "cats" .)