Not pointless races, since there's money involved (6)
I believe the answer is:
stakes
'not pointless races' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stakes that I've seen before include "Pointed sticks or shares in enterprise" , "Monies risked on a gamble" , "Sharp sticks or wagers" , "Monies risked on gambles" , "Sharp sticks or bets on horses" .)