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
Fact-finding mission at Trentham next Saturday for Lightning fast Platinum Attack
Platinum Attack’s big chance - down in class and back to his favourite Trentham track
Finally a draw and Attack has flying Aussie Ben Thompson to get him across the line
Will Platinum Attack settle over 1400 metres in the BCD Sprint? Ear covers go on to help
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Lisa’s comments
Saturday at Otaki
Race 3: Platinum Tyche
1:19pm
“I couldn’t be happier with her work and she has certainly improved from her first-up run when she did not have all favours. I don’t think it’s the strongest of fields and the forecast is looking good so I think she will get her chance to bounce back to winning form. Bruno Queiroz rides from gate four.”
Race 5: Platinum Attack
2:29pm
“He drew badly in 19 but they will start only 14 so he will come in to 13 or 14. The positive is there is good speed in the race with Shoes, Party Rocking and Idyllic who all go forward. I couldn’t be happier with him - his final work on Wednesday morning on the course proper was as strong as ever. He still has his summer coat and is looking fantastic. It’s a similar field to the one he beat last start at Trentham and Bruno Queiroz just needs to find some luck in the running.”