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
Hawk will need the run but don’t poo-poo the form from the Castlepoint Beach races
Visor blinkers switch on Lincoln King in hard-fought first hurdles win at Ballarat
Promising pair extend picket fence form lines but soon to go into winter quarters
Atta boy Billy, your timing to erase the recent pain was brilliant - and so was Opie’s
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Lisa’s comments
Thursday at Otaki
Race 7: Lincoln Falls
4.23pm
“I thought it was a great run at Otaki where he was beaten on the line coming off a one week back-up. He sets up a lot nicer here with 12 days between races. He came through that last run really well and drops down to 53kg. Ace Lawson-Carroll should be able to get into a nice position from the six draw and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him right in the finish again.”
Lisa’s comments
Saturday at Wanganui
Race 2: Lincoln’s Kruz
12.45pm
“ I thought he was very gallant last start finishing fifth on a heavy track, which we know doesn’t suit him. We should be running on a track in the soft range on Saturday which I think will play into his favour. He is going to need a touch of luck from the nine draw, but this is certainly the weakest field he has come up against for some time. Ace Lawson-Carroll will ride claiming 2kg.”