Could it happen here?

[curious]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/36324958/british-racing-strike-carlisle-uttoxeter-staffordshire-kempton/

https://bitofayarn.com

British racing to go on strike for first time in protest at betting tax rise

www.thesun.co.uk

BRITISH racing is set to go on strike for the first time EVER next month.

September 10 events at Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Kempton and Lingfield Park are all set to be scrapped.

Four events are set to be scrapped next month, including at LingfieldCredit: Getty

The Treasury have proposed to up taxes paid by bookies on racing profits from 15 to 21 per cent - in line with online casinos.

According to The Times, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) have organised the strike, which could cost the industry around £700,000, in opposition to the proposal.

Each meeting will be rescheduled at a later date.

The BHA claim that the proposed change would cost the sector £66million every year and put up to 2,752 people out of a job

While they also warned that it would send the sport into "irreversible decline".

The proposed strike is set to take place just one day before the start of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster.

This means that the issue will be placed at the forefront of the sport by the time the prestigious event, which prime minister Keir Starmer attended alongside his wife last year, comes around.

Chief executive of the BHA Brant Dunshea said: "This latest tax bombshell from the Government, if followed through, poses one of the gravest risks to horseracing the sport has ever seen. 

“The horseracing industry is already in a precarious financial position, and the latest research provides a much more catastrophic forecast than we first thought. 

“We’re talking thousands of jobs at risk across the supply chain, severely impacted towns and communities, and the irreversible decline of the country’s second most popular sport.”

Owners remove £195,000 Grade 2-winning horse from Gordon Elliott’s yard with his blessing and send to his protege

It's claimed that bookies would likely look to increase their prices should the proposal come into effect - https://bitofayarn.com while two thirds of punters claim that a tax increase would push people towards the gambling black market.

It's also said that bookmakers would cut their advertising and market budgets - while turning their focus towards online gaming.

David Menuisier, a trainer at Coombelands Racing Stables, recently told The Sun: “Racing is much more than just a sport in this country.

“It brings fun and excitement to millions and is a major local employer, particularly here in West Sussex as we prepare for another fantastic year at Goodwood.”

[Freda]

24 minutes ago, curious said:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/36324958/british-racing-strike-carlisle-uttoxeter-staffordshire-kempton/

No.

I see the strike was arranged by the BHA.

Can you imagine NZTR  'arranging a strike' ?

And - given what I have learned from some smart people over a long period of time - the NZ Govt.  subsidises racing here to a very generous extent.  To then 'tax' something that it bankrolls would seem to be an oxymoron - if such a term could be applied here.

[Chief Stipe]

No.  The UK is a basket case financially and the Government has to find revenue from everywhere.

From what I've read the UK is close to flash point and significant civil unrest.

I wouldn't be quoting anything from that hell hole at the moment.

Go Woke You Go Broke.  You should take heed of that @curious .

[curious]

2 hours ago, Freda said:

No.

I see the strike was arranged by the BHA.

Can you imagine NZTR  'arranging a strike' ?

And - given what I have learned from some smart people over a long period of time - the NZ Govt.  subsidises racing here to a very generous extent.  To then 'tax' something that it bankrolls would seem to be an oxymoron - if such a term could be applied here.

That's true but the 4% duty here has just been phased out. A change of political environment could possibly restore it at pretty much the stroke of a pen. We still have the 1% problem gambling levy.