RaceForm stuck in the starting gates - are we losing our only form guide?
By Barry Lichter • 15 May 2020
The future of the country’s sole racing news and form guide remains up in the air today.
While the Racing Industry Transition Agency has circulated documents spelling out that is planning to stop investing in both daily newspaper form and the weekly publication of RaceForm, the magazine’s editor Dennis Ryan has not been informed.
“We have contacted the executive chair (Dean McKenzie) notifying him of our intention to return once thoroughbred racing resumes and are awaiting a reply.
“We have some exciting plans, which we have previously shared with them, and hoped to be back publishing on July 1.”
Matamata Racing Club chairman Dennis Ryan who edits RaceForm.RITA’s support package for RaceForm includes advertising and, more crucially, it provides the fields and form for New Zealand and Australian racing.
Ryan says while RaceForm carries news and feature stories on gallops and harness, a majority of people buy it for the fields, form and selections, with Best Bets now incorporated in the magazine.
“We depend on the TAB for the fields and form. Given the tight time frame that we operate under - we go to the printers at 2pm on Wednesday soon after the fields close - we need a direct file feed. We couldn’t rely on any other way.”
Ryan says the model which RaceForm uses of Friday through Sunday racing, with fields and editorial, had the support of McKenzie and the RITA board who were instrumental in getting it off the ground.
Ryan says he’d need to start cranking up the operation in a couple of weeks time.
More news in Gallops
Attack working ‘phenomenal’ but history paints outside gate in Telegraph a killer
Will the Otaki track dry enough before Sunday for exciting sprinter Platinum Attack?
Mereana’s game plan for Platinum Tyche works a treat - but stipes sour the moment
Weather gods will decide Platinum Attack’s fate in the Stewards but it’s looking brighter
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Lisa’s comments
Saturday at Trentham
Race 2: Platinum Tyche
1.05pm
“This is a big drop-back in class for her as her last two races have been very strong rating 75s. The track at Otaki was particularly wet and she just didn’t handle it. She has come through that run in fantastic order and is very bright and well. She shouldn’t be too far off the leaders from the good draw and I expect her to bounce back to form providing we get a decent track.”
Race 8: Platinum Attack
4.43pm
“He drew the outside barrier in this race last year and has been dealt the same card again. He couldn’t be looking any better though and his work has been phenomenal. He is right where he needs to be to win a race like this. We are going to need some luck from the draw but Craig Grylls knows him well now and I thought that he is certainly one of the better horses in the race. If he gets clear air at the right time then he will finish with a big run.”