Crossword Genius

Preliminary races (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

heats

'preliminary races' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

This is the entire clue.

(Other definitions for heats that I've seen before include "Eliminating rounds of a race" , "Haste (anag.)" , "Warms up for the preliminary races" , "Eliminating rounds in a contest" , "Makes hot or warm" .)

I've seen this clue in the New York Times, the USA Today, The Independent, the Universal and the Newsday.com.
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