Arlington Capital buys DRF

Arlington Capital Partners, a Washington-based private equity fund, announced Monday the formation of Sports Information Group LLC and its acquisition of Daily Racing Form LLC and sister company Sports Enthusiast Media from an entity controlled by The Wicks Group of Companies, LLC. Terms of the transaction, which was completed Oct. 19, were not disclosed.

"Arlington is excited to invest in the Daily Racing Form, which has a distinguished 113-year history and today remains the clear market leader for news, information, and analytics in the North American Thoroughbred industry," said Jeffrey Freed, a founding partner at Arlington.

Sports Information Group inherits an accomplished and experienced management team from Daily Racing Form and will continue to be led by its chief executive officer, Brent Diamond. Long-time company executive Jim Kostas has been promoted to president. The publishing and editorial organization will remain intact.

"Arlington Capital is poised to take Daily Racing Form to new heights," Diamond said. "We're very excited about their investment and commitment to further grow and expand the strong brand of this company."

"DRF will continue to be an independent voice for Thoroughbred racing news and information," said Steven Crist, who remains publisher.

Sports Information Group is the seventh owner of Daily Racing Form since it was founded in 1894. Purchased in 1922 by Triangle Publications, the property was owned by the Annenberg family for most of the 20th century before being sold to Rupert Murdoch in 1990 and then to K-III (later Primedia) in 1992. Crist put together an investment group headed by Alpine Capital Group to buy Daily Racing Form from Primedia in 1998, and Alpine sold the company to The Wicks Group in 2004.