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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Scratch race

Scratch \Scratch\, a. Made, done, or happening by chance; arranged with little or no preparation; determined by circumstances; haphazard; as, a scratch team; a scratch crew for a boat race; a scratch shot in billiards. [Slang]

Scratch race, one without restrictions regarding the entrance of competitors; also, one for which the competitors are chosen by lot.

WordNet
scratch race

n. a race in which all contestant start from scratch (on equal terms)

Wikipedia
Scratch race

In track cycling, a scratch race is a race in which all riders start together and the objective is simply to be first over the finish line after a certain number of laps. There are no intermediate points or sprints.

UCI regulations specify that a scratch race should be held over 15 km for Elite Men and 10 km for Elite Women. Shorter distances of 10 km for men and 7.5 km for women may be used for qualifying rounds.