Extract from essay on a race so long? (8)
I believe the answer is:
sayonara
'so long?' is the definition.
('sayonara' can be a synonym of 'so long')
'extract from essay on a race' is the wordplay.
'extract from' says the answer is hidden in the clue (I've seen this in other clues).
'SAYONARA' is hidden in the letters of 'essay on a race'.
(Other definitions for sayonara that I've seen before include "Japanese farewell" , "Japanese valediction" , "Goodbye or farewell in Japan" , "So long" , "Japanese goodbye" .)