Race from state to city (8,5)
I believe the answer is:
kentucky derby
'race' is the definition.
'state to city' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'kentucky' (Kentucky is an example).
'to city' becomes 'Derby' (Derby is an English city).
'kentucky'+'derby'='KENTUCKY DERBY'
'from' is the link.
(Other definitions for kentucky derby that I've seen before include "Top US horse race" , "Annual US horse race for three-year-olds" .)