Longtime Daily Racing Form handicapper Mulligan retires

After almost 50 years with Daily Racing Form, handicapper and writer Brian Mulligan, best known as the longtime “Sweep” for the Southern California circuit, is hanging up his tack and retiring this week.

As a young man from New Jersey, Mulligan did some backstretch work, including for then up-and-coming Southern California trainer Bill Spawr. From there, he moved to the Racing Form’s Los Angeles office, initially in the statistical department, back when the office still used manual typewriters and kept a horse’s workout records on index cards.

He soon moved into the editorial/handicapping department, editing stories and doing some selections. He eventually took over duties as “Sweep” in the early 1980s, which included making the line and commenting on the horses. He also was responsible for the National Daily Reporter, best known as the “scratch sheet.”

For many years, the DRF handicappers worked in anonymity, listed only as Trackman, Handicap, Hermis, and Sweep, though eventually names were put to those titles. Mulligan was one of the first DRF handicappers to go on “tour,” going to various racetracks to do handicapping seminars.

Mulligan continued those duties when the Racing Form offices consolidated in Phoenix, and he took on more national assignments with additional selections while also writing “A Closer Look” features for various tracks around the country. He continued to contribute selections and Closer Looks from home after the Phoenix office closed and the company moved to its current New York location. However, Sweep is now the track’s morning line.

Known not only for his handicapping abilities but also for his talent at golf and darts, Mulligan retires in Phoenix, as old Sweep’would say, “in fine fettle.”

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