diff --git a/betfairutil/__init__.py b/betfairutil/__init__.py
index 3a870c8..41df99d 100644
--- a/betfairutil/__init__.py
+++ b/betfairutil/__init__.py
@@ -2353,6 +2353,25 @@ def create_market_book_generator_from_prices_file(
     return stream.listener.snap()
 
 
+def create_race_change_generator_from_race_file(
+    path_to_race_file: Union[str, Path],
+) -> Generator[Dict[str, Any], None, None]:
+    import smart_open
+    from unittest.mock import patch
+
+    trading = APIClient(username="", password="", app_key="")
+    stream = trading.streaming.create_historical_generator_stream(
+        file_path=path_to_race_file,
+        listener=StreamListener(max_latency=None, lightweight=True, update_clk=False),
+        operation="raceSubscription",
+    )
+    with patch("builtins.open", smart_open.open):
+        g = stream.get_generator()
+        for rcs in g():
+            for rc in rcs:
+                yield rc
+
+
 def read_prices_file(
     path_to_prices_file: Union[str, Path],
     lightweight: bool = True,
@@ -2411,18 +2430,38 @@ def read_prices_file(
 
 
 def read_race_file(path_to_race_file: Union[str, Path]) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
-    import smart_open
-    from unittest.mock import patch
+    race_changes = list(create_race_change_generator_from_race_file(path_to_race_file))
+    return race_changes
 
-    trading = APIClient(username="", password="", app_key="")
-    stream = trading.streaming.create_historical_generator_stream(
-        file_path=path_to_race_file,
-        listener=StreamListener(max_latency=None, lightweight=True, update_clk=False),
-        operation="raceSubscription",
-    )
-    with patch("builtins.open", smart_open.open):
-        g = stream.get_generator()
-        return [rc for rcs in g() for rc in rcs]
+
+def get_race_change_from_race_file(
+    path_to_race_file: Union[str, Path],
+    gate_name: Optional[str] = None,
+    publish_time: Optional[int] = None,
+) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """
+    Search a recorded race file for the first update after the given criterion. You can search EITHER by the gate name,
+    for example "1f" to get the first race change after entering the final furlong, OR by publish time. The latter is
+    useful when cross-referencing with the Betfair price stream. This function is memory efficient in that only a single
+    race change is held in memory at a time
+
+    :param path_to_race_file: The path to the recorded race file to search
+    :param gate_name: The Gmax gate name to search for, for example "1f"
+    :param publish_time: The Betfair publish time to search for
+    :return: The first race change meeting the search criterion
+    :raises: AssertionError unless exactly one of gate_name and publish_time is not None
+    """
+    assert not (gate_name is not None and publish_time is not None)
+
+    g = create_race_change_generator_from_race_file(path_to_race_file)
+    if gate_name is not None:
+        for race_change in g:
+            if (race_change.get("rpc") or {}).get("g") == gate_name:
+                return race_change
+    else:
+        for race_change in g:
+            if race_change["pt"] >= publish_time:
+                return race_change
 
 
 def remove_bet_from_runner_book(
diff --git a/tests/test_non_prices.py b/tests/test_non_prices.py
index 6581f24..97252c2 100644
--- a/tests/test_non_prices.py
+++ b/tests/test_non_prices.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 from betfairutil import get_event_id_from_string
 from betfairutil import get_market_id_from_string
 from betfairutil import get_pre_event_volume_traded_from_prices_file
+from betfairutil import get_race_change_from_race_file
 from betfairutil import get_race_id_from_string
 from betfairutil import get_runner_book_from_market_book
 from betfairutil import get_selection_id_to_runner_name_map_from_market_catalogue
@@ -145,6 +146,24 @@ def market_book(market_definition: Dict[str, Any]):
     }
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def race_change():
+    return {
+        "id": "31945198.2354",
+        "mid": "1.207120593",
+        "rpc": {
+            "ft": 1670024521800,
+            "g": "",
+            "st": 0,
+            "rt": 0,
+            "spd": 0,
+            "prg": 1106.4,
+            "ord": [],
+            "J": [],
+        },
+    }
+
+
 def test_side():
     assert Side.LAY.other_side == Side.BACK
 
@@ -773,3 +792,42 @@ def test_get_winners_from_market_definition(market_definition: Dict[str, Any]):
     assert get_winners_from_market_definition(market_definition) == [
         market_definition["runners"][0]["id"]
     ]
+
+
+def test_get_race_change_from_race_file(race_change: Dict[str, Any], tmp_path: Path):
+    path_to_race_file = tmp_path / f"31945198.2354.jsonl.gz"
+    with smart_open.open(path_to_race_file, "w") as f:
+        f.write(
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "op": "rcm",
+                    "clk": 0,
+                    "pt": race_change["rpc"]["ft"],
+                    "rc": [race_change],
+                }
+            )
+        )
+        f.write("\n")
+    with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
+        get_race_change_from_race_file(
+            path_to_race_file, gate_name="1f", publish_time=race_change["rpc"]["ft"]
+        )
+
+    assert get_race_change_from_race_file(path_to_race_file, gate_name="1f") is None
+    assert (
+        get_race_change_from_race_file(
+            path_to_race_file, publish_time=race_change["rpc"]["ft"] + 1
+        )
+        is None
+    )
+
+    assert (
+        get_race_change_from_race_file(path_to_race_file, gate_name="")["rpc"]
+        == race_change["rpc"]
+    )
+    assert (
+        get_race_change_from_race_file(
+            path_to_race_file, publish_time=race_change["rpc"]["ft"]
+        )["rpc"]
+        == race_change["rpc"]
+    )