Daily Racing Form launches DRF Sports Form sports-betting publication

The parent company of Daily Racing Form has launched a publication focused on sports betting, DRF Sports Form, with plans to distribute additional issues each week both in print and digital form, the company announced.

The launch of the publication follows on the heels of the May decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down a law that prohibited states from authorizing sports betting. Since then, sports betting operations have launched in New Jersey, Delaware, and Mississippi, and sports betting is set to begin soon in West Virginia and Rhode Island, with more states expected over the next several years.

The initial edition of DRF Sports Form will be made available in print in the northeastern United States, while digital editions will be available on the DRF website.

:: Get a free digital copy of DRF Sports Form

The publication, priced at $4.99, will include analysis of games that will likely be among the top tier of contests targeted by sports bettors, including all NFL games and a lineup of college football games, with more than 40 college contests spotlighted in the launch edition. The publication will utilize data from StatFox, a data company that is owned by Sports Information Group, the parent company of DRF.

Don Ryan, chief executive officer of SIG, said that the company is positioned well to launch the product, considering that Daily Racing Form is already distributed in print to markets across the United States and the company’s brand is associated positively with betting.

“We’ve certainly heard the overwhelming interest from customers in having a product that serves the sports-betting market in the same authoritative and comprehensive way that Daily Racing Form serves the horse racing community,” Ryan said. “I have no doubt that both casual and professional sports bettors are going to quickly fall in love with DRF Sports Form and the deep insight and unparalleled analysis they will find in each issue.”

The launch is one of a number of recent developments involving racing companies attempting to capitalize on the Supreme Court decision and the belief that sports betting will be rapidly authorized across the United States. Churchill Downs Inc. and the parent company of TVG, for example, have both reached partnerships recently intended to position the companies in the sports-betting market. Racing companies have noted that sports bettors share many of the same characteristics of racing bettors, and research has shown there is a strong crossover.

"Sports betting is a natural extension for DRF’s customer base, which wagers on horse racing with triple the bankroll of the average horseplayer," said James Zenni, chairman of SIG and president and chief executive officer of Z Capital. "We are proud to support the launch of this exciting new product, which compliments SIG’s platform and reaffirms Daily Racing Form as an innovative industry leader."

A copy of DRF Sports Bets is being inserted into northeast editions of the Sept. 1 Daily Racing Form. More information is available at drf.com/sportsform.