Course records gaining award (5)
I believe the answer is:
epsom
'course' is the definition.
(a race course)
'records gaining award' is the wordplay.
'records' becomes 'EPs' (EP is a type of record).
'gaining' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'award' becomes 'OM' (order of merit).
'eps'+'om'='EPSOM'
(Other definitions for epsom that I've seen before include "track in Surrey" , "Mopes around in English horse-racing venue" , "Mopes around English Derby venue" , "can have horses" , "Surrey race course" .)