Machine tricky to halt at the end of a race? (5)
I believe the answer is:
lathe
'machine' is the definition.
(machine for shaping metal etc)
'halt at the end of a race?' is the wordplay.
'at' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'end of' suggests the final letters.
'a race?' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'racing' mean this (to race around can mean to move)).
The final letter of 'the' is 'e'.
'halt' after 'e' is 'ehalt'.
'ehalt' is an anagram of 'LATHE'.
'tricky to' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lathe that I've seen before include "Wood-shaping machine" , "craftsman's machine" , "Rotating machine tool" , "Turning implement" , "Machine for cutting, drilling or polishing" .)