Maybe read about a race improperly abandoned (6)
I believe the answer is:
ratted
'improperly abandoned' is the definition.
(to rat can mean to abandon or desert)
'maybe read about a race' is the wordplay.
'maybe' indicates anagramming the letters.
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'a race' becomes 'tt'.
'read' anagrammed gives 'raed'.
'raed' placed around 'tt' is 'RATTED'.
(Other definitions for ratted that I've seen before include "Deserted the side, rodent-like" , "Betrayed or informed, the rodent" , "Betrayed like a rodent" , "Broke promise in treacherous or rodent style" , "Deserted; very drunk" .)