British horse racing will go on strike on 10 September, taking the unprecedented motion of refusing to race in protest towards the Authorities’s proposed tax rise on betting on the game.
As a part of its industry-wide Axe The Racing Tax marketing campaign, 4 fixtures scheduled for that day at Lingfield Park, Carlisle, Uttoxeter and Kempton Park have been rearranged by the British Horseracing Authority.
It’s the first time the game has voluntarily refused to race in its fashionable historical past.
The governing physique is campaigning towards the Treasury’s proposal to introduce a single distant playing tax, which might enhance the 15% tax charge paid by bookmakers on racing and aligning it with on-line gaming, which is at the moment taxed at 21%.
The BHA says this is able to have a “damaging affect” on the {industry} with its financial evaluation predicting an estimated £330m loss in income and placing 2,752 jobs in danger within the first yr alone.
A spokesperson for the Treasury informed BBC Sport: “We’re consulting on bringing the therapy of on-line betting according to different types of on-line playing to chop down paperwork – it isn’t about rising or lowering charges, and we welcome views from all stakeholders together with companies, commerce our bodies, the third sector and people.”
Chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves’s autumn price range in October is anticipated to convey tax rises.
Brant Dunshea, chief government on the British Horseracing Authority, mentioned the proposals “threaten the very future” of the game.
Race conferences in Britain happen 363 days a yr, until known as off for opposed climate, equine virus outbreaks and nationwide crises such because the Covid-19 pandemic.
The strike takes place the day earlier than the beginning of the four-day St Leger competition at Doncaster Racecourse.
“British Racing is already in a precarious monetary place and analysis has proven {that a} tax rise on racing could possibly be catastrophic for the game and the hundreds of jobs that depend on it in cities and communities throughout the nation,” added Dunshea.
“That is the primary time that British Racing has chosen to not race on account of Authorities proposals. We’ve not taken this determination flippantly however in doing so we’re urging the Authorities to rethink this tax proposal to guard the way forward for our sport which is a cherished a part of Britain’s heritage and tradition.”
