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The answer to this puzzle is a list of fourteen thematically related terms. Each of these is clued cryptically, and the wordplays and theme are to be determined. The answers are clued in alphabetical order (by answer) below. Since the definition parts of the clues would give away the theme, these clues use a family member (e.g., aunt, brother) to stand in for the definition part. So, for example, if the theme of the puzzle were chemical elements, "Sister picked at nit" could clue "tin".

  • Aunt is a lot of resonance in a work by Paul Newton (3,7)
  • Brother, one who imitates, has infestation on Twitter (5,6)
  • Cousin reenacted The Graduate without water in El Salvador (2,5)
  • Daughter's off to France with provocateur (3,10)
  • Ex is rarest meat, perhaps, for the Rev. Spooner? (4,7)
  • Father's "Will do! Yes!" precedes muscle spasm in rush (6,7)
  • Gramps is one of many to follow superficial mentor (2,8)
  • Husband dreamt up nonsense with noise, primarily upsetting Penny (2,6)
  • In-law some initially criticize (5)
  • Jointress even I confused in country (6,5)
  • Kinswoman worried lest we die without final rite (3,5)
  • Levir's gift? Why, a screw. (It's returnable.) (5,5)
  • Mother to paddle back a boatload with spy chief Daisy (10,6)
  • Niece is that Disney princess heard in France, perhaps (7)

Credit: The puzzle type is Jeremy Dover's, and the wording of the instructions is also based on his.

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These clues lead us to fourteen...

...famous top hat wearers! The title reflects the top hat's renown as a formal item of headwear at a horse race.

The fourteen top hat wearers clued in this puzzle

Abe Lincoln, Alice Cooper, Dr Teeth (from The Muppets), Fat Controller (from Thomas the Tank Engine), Fred Astaire, Jiminy Cricket (from Pinocchio), Mr Monopoly (from the board game), Mr Peanut (the logo and mascot of Planters), Slash, Stevie Nicks, Ted Lewis, Willy Wonka (the Roald Dahl character), Worshipful Master (the position in Freemasonry), and Zatanna (from DC Comics).

Clue explanations:

Aunt is a lot of resonance in a work by Paul Newton (3,7) ABE LINCOLN = A BEL IN + COL. (a work by Paul) + N (Newton)

Brother, one who imitates, has infestation on Twitter (5,6) ALICE COOPER = A(LICE+COO)PER (where an 'aper' mimics, and 'coo' and 'twitter' are bird noises!)

Cousin reenacted The Graduate without water in El Salvador (2,5) DR TEETH = THEGRADUATE* without AGUA ('water' in Spanish)

Daughter's off to France with provocateur (3,10) FAT CONTROLLER = TOFRANCE* containing TROLL (provocateur)

Ex is rarest meat, perhaps, for the Rev. Spooner? (4,7) FRED ASTAIRE = Spooner(“Reddest Fare”)

Father's "Will do! Yes!" precedes muscle spasm in rush (6,7) JIMINY CRICKET = J(I'M IN + Y + CRICK)ET

Gramps is one of many to follow superficial mentor (2,8) MR MONOPOLY = M(-ento)R + MONO (one) + POLY (of many)

Husband dreamt up nonsense with noise, primarily upsetting Penny (2,6) MR PEANUT = (d->N_)REAMTUP*

In-law some initially criticize (5) SLASH = S_ + LASH (criticize)

Jointress even I confused in country (6,5) STEVIE NICKS = ST(EVENI*)ICKS (since 'the sticks' = countryside, a rural area)

Kinswoman worried lest we die without final rite (3,5) TED LEWIS = LESTWEDI(-e)*

Levir's gift? Why, a screw. (It's returnable.) (5,5) WILLY WONKA = WILL (gift) + Y (Why) + (A+KNOW)< (NB ‘know’ in the Biblical sense)

Mother to paddle back a boatload with spy chief Daisy (10,6) WORSHIPFUL MASTER = ROW< + SHIPFUL (boatload) + M (spy chief) + ASTER (Daisy)

Niece is that Disney princess heard in France, perhaps (7) ZATANNA = sounds like “is that Anna?” spoken in an ‘outrageous’ French accent!

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