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15 Across, Encouraging cry, with point for horse (paired with)... (7)

17 Across, ... puts me out before start of race (7)

1 Down, Stay in endlessly violent Eastern state capital (5,5)

14 Down Shake a leg and excite,according to interpretation (10)

Compiler - PHI

Many Thanks

14d exegetical ... anagram of a leg excite

1 Down, Baton Rouge

15a is mustang [I think]
17a sumpter
1d Baton Rouge
14d exegetical

Have you seen the significance of 6d 23d?

17 stumper? Does the previous clue reference cricket?

Good morning to you all and many thanks.

I have not seen the seen the significance of 6d 23d?.

MUSH could be the encouraging cry, but I don't see how it works, or how it relates to the next clue (SUMPTER is a pack-carrying animal)

17 sumpter fits the crossers and also the theme. Accordingly I'm thinking mustang for 15, although I don't get the "encouraging cry".

15a Mustang
Mush is an encouraging cry to a sleigh dog.
Repace H(horse) with tang. Tang (see Chambers) can be a point, or a spike.

Thank you for that jazzgirl.