Racing Post

Racing Post
Name	Racing Post
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Tabloid
Founded	1986
Founder	Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Owner	Reach plc
Language	English
Headquarters	London
Circulation	Print and digital circulation (varies)

Racing Post is a British daily sports publication specialising in horse racing, greyhound racing, and betting markets. It provides form guides, racecards, analysis, statistics and news aimed at professional bookmakers, punters and industry participants from venues such as Ascot Racecourse, Aintree Racecourse, and Cheltenham Racecourse. The title has expanded from a print tabloid to a multimedia operation covering major events including the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival, and the Epsom Derby.

History

Launched in 1986, the paper was established during a period of expansion in commercial horse racing media and in proximity to influential figures including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Early competition included titles such as The Sporting Life and The Times (London), with the new title quickly becoming the trade publication for professional bookmakers and racing enthusiasts. Ownership and investment shifts involved groups like Trinity Mirror (later Reach plc) and private investors, while editorial leadership drew on experienced journalists from outlets such as The Daily Telegraph and The Independent. Over the decades the publication navigated transitions in the British racing calendar, regulatory changes at bodies like the British Horseracing Authority and broadcasting developments with broadcasters including ITV Sport and Sky Sports. Strategic decisions followed market pressures from digital disruption affecting peers such as The Guardian and Daily Mail.

Coverage and content

Coverage centres on detailed form analysis, racecards, betting markets, and feature journalism. Regular columns and analysis have been written by figures associated with John Francome, Simon Holt, and contributors who previously worked at The Racing Post Magazine and regional titles. The paper provides statistical services linked to data from organisations such as Timeform and betting exchanges including Betfair; it reports on licensing and regulation matters involving the Jockey Club (United Kingdom) and stewards at individual courses. Event-led special coverage accompanies festivals and Classics including Royal Ascot, Goodwood Festival, and international fixtures like the Breeders' Cup and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Investigative pieces have examined ownership structures tied to prominent owners such as Coolmore Stud and trainers operating from locations like Newmarket, Epsom, and Lambourn.

Format and editions

Originally produced as a tabloid print edition distributed across the United Kingdom and Ireland, the newspaper developed weekend and premium editions to coincide with key racing fixtures. Regional editions and race-day supplements target venues including Kempton Park Racecourse, Windsor Racecourse, and York Racecourse. Special publications and seasonal guides are issued around events such as the Investec Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The print layout traditionally combined racecards, tipping pages, feature interviews, and statistical tables; photographic coverage often features jockeys linked to stables of trainers such as Aidan O'Brien and Nicky Henderson.

Digital presence and services

The title expanded into online services with real-time racecards, live result feeds, and betting tools integrated with exchanges and bookmakers including William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral. Mobile applications offer push notifications for results from tracks like Haydock Park and Doncaster Racecourse and provide streaming partnership content aligned with broadcasters such as At The Races. Digital data offerings encompass historical databases, sectional timing analysis, and tipping algorithms used by professional audiences and syndicates operating across jurisdictions including Ireland, France, and United States. Subscription models mirror strategies used by outlets like Bloomberg and The Athletic, combining free news with paid premium content, while social media channels interact with personalities such as prominent jockeys, trainers, and presenters from BBC Sport and racing podcasts.

Ownership and corporate structure

Corporate ownership has evolved through private equity, media conglomerates and trade investors; major transactions in the wider UK media landscape involved companies including Trinity Mirror (now Reach plc) and investment groups connected to international owners. The organisation operates commercial partnerships with bookmakers, racing organisations and event promoters such as Arena Racing Company and the Racecourse Association. Management and editorial governance coordinate with legal and compliance teams addressing betting advertising regulation enforced by regulators like the Gambling Commission (UK). The company structure supports divisions for print publishing, digital product, data services, advertising sales and events, and corporate affairs that liaise with bodies such as the British Horseracing Authority.

Influence and reception

The publication is regarded as a leading trade and consumer source within horse racing and betting communities, influencing markets at meetings including Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National through tipping and market analysis. It has been cited in parliamentary discussions involving the House of Commons on racing and gambling policy and referenced by broadcasters like Channel 4 and Sky Sports when covering major races. Critics and competitors have debated its role in shaping public perceptions of ownership, training and regulatory matters, with commentators from outlets including The Daily Telegraph and The Times (London) both praising and scrutinising its investigative reporting. Its data products are used by professional traders, bookmakers and syndicates, and its editorial stance continues to affect discourse around prominent industry figures such as Frankie Dettori and major operations like Godolphin.

Category:British newspapers Category:Sports newspapers Category:Horse racing in the United Kingdom