DRF names president

NEW YORK - Brent Diamond, a veteran sports-publishing executive, has been named president of Daily Racing Form by The Wicks Group, which purchased the 110-year-old newspaper company in May. Diamond succeeds Charles Hayward, who is leaving the company after six years to pursue other publishing projects.

"Charlie and I have been partners in this venture since we began trying to acquire the Form in 1997," said Steven Crist, DRF's chairman and publisher, who along with Hayward assembled the investment group and management team that purchased the Form in August 1998. "Charlie has been the driving force in the turnaround we were able to achieve with the company and the recent successful sale to Wicks," Crist said. "We hate to lose him but understand his desire to find some new mountains to climb."

"We've had a great run at the Form, and I'm very proud of what we were able to accomplish," said Hayward, a longtime book-publishing executive who will remain as a consultant to the company during a transitional period. "I look forward to enjoying racing as a civilian again, and I'm confident that I am leaving an excellent team in place at the Form."

Diamond, 47, most recently was president of The Lifestyles Group of magazines at Primedia, including its equine titles. Previously, he was the group publisher for Surfer Publishing, including its Bike and Inside Golf magazines; publisher and editor of The Sporting Goods Dealer for Times Mirror Magazines/The Sporting News; and group publisher/editorial director for Virgo Publishing, whose titles included Team Sports and Team Licensing magazines.

"I am excited about building on the tremendous job the Form has done in improving its products and reclaiming its vital role in the racing industry," said Diamond, who will serve as the company's chief executive. "The Wicks Group believes that racing has a very bright future and that the Daily Racing Form brand is a strong one with significant opportunities for growth and expansion."