Editing Racing Post (section)

== History ==
Launched on 15 April 1986,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-13 |title=History of the Racing Post |url=https://www.historic-newspapers.co.uk/blog/racing-post-history/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Historic Newspapers |language=en-GB |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028113110/https://www.historic-newspapers.co.uk/blog/racing-post-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''Racing Post'' is a daily national print and digital publisher specializing in the [[horseracing in Great Britain|British horse racing industry]], horse racing, [[greyhound racing]], and [[sports betting]]. The paper was founded by [[UAE]] (United Arab Emirates) Prime Minister and [[Emir of Dubai|Sheikh of Dubai]] [[Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], a racehorse owner, and edited by Graham Rock, who was replaced by Michael Harris in 1988. In 1998, Sheikh Mohammed sold the license for the paper to [[Trinity Mirror]], owners of ''[[Sporting Life (British newspaper)|The Sporting Life]]'' for £1, although Sheikh Mohammed still retains ownership of the paper's name, and Trinity Mirror donated £10 million to four horse racing charities as a condition of the transfer.

In 2007, [[Reach plc|Trinity Mirror]] sold the paper for £170m to FL Partners,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7021605.stm|title=Trinity Mirror sells Racing Post|publisher=BBC News|date=1 October 2007|access-date=28 June 2016|archive-date=18 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818052551/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7021605.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> who appointed former editor Alan Byrne as editor-in-chief and chief executive. The paper launched its website, racingpost.co.uk, in 1997. After the paper's sale to FL Partners, the site was relaunched as racingpost.com in 2008.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} The business was sold to Exponent Private Equity in September 2016, with Richard Segal appointed chairman.

Alan Byrne edited the paper from 1993 to 2002. He was succeeded by Chris Smith, who was then replaced by Bruce Millington in 2007. Millington was the editor between 2007 and 2018. In December 2018, Tom Kerr was named as the new editor of the ''Racing Post'' and Group Racing Director, replacing Bruce Millington. The former horserace writer of the year previously worked as a senior writer for ''Racing Post'' and had been with the business for nine years.

''Racing Post'' employs approximately 300 permanent staff and expanded in 2018 by acquiring a majority stake in the leading sports betting website and app business, Apsley, as well as the acquisition of Leeds-based ICS Media Group, a content provider and [[digital marketing]] agency.

In March 2020, the Racing Post announced it would suspend publication of its print edition in response to the halting of British and Irish horseracing because of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Printing of the publication returned in June 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/racing-post-to-suspend-publication-39077247.html|title=Racing Post to suspend publication|publisher=Irish Independent|date=25 March 2020|access-date=26 March 2020|archive-date=26 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326093954/https://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/racing-post-to-suspend-publication-39077247.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-25 |title=Racing Post to temporarily suspend publication of print edition |url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/25/cork-racecourse-coronavirus-testing-centre |access-date=2022-08-25 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825235635/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/25/cork-racecourse-coronavirus-testing-centre |url-status=live }}</ref>