British Racing Called Off For One Day as Axe The Racing Tax Campaign Gathers Pace

[Wandering Eyes]

In an extraordinary move by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), no race meetings will take place in Britain on Wednesday, September 10. The refusal to race is a protest at the British government's proposed tax rise on horserace betting, which, if approved, would bring it in line with betting on online gaming, pushing it up from 15 per cent to 21 per cent.

This will be the first time that the sport has voluntarily refused to race in its modern history. The four meetings scheduled for that day will move to different dates in the calendar

The announcement comes as British Racing's 'Axe the Racing Tax' campaign gears up in advance of the Autumn Budget. The BHA has warned that proposal to harmonise betting duty could have “devastating consequences for the nation's second-largest spectator sport that supports 85,000 jobs and which is attended by almost 5 million people each year”.

On September 10, senior racing leaders will be joined in Westminster by owners, trainers and jockeys to an industry worth £4.1 billion to the UK economy. 

“We have decided to take the unprecedented decision to cancel our planned racing fixtures on 10 September to highlight to government the serious consequences of the Treasury's tax proposals which threaten the very future of our sport,” said BHA chief executive  Brant Dunshea.

“British Racing is already in a precarious financial position and research has shown that a tax rise on racing could be catastrophic for the sport and the thousands of jobs that rely on it in towns and communities across the country.

“This is the first time that British Racing has chosen not to race due to government proposals. We haven't taken this decision lightly but in doing so we are urging the government to rethink this tax proposal to protect the future of our sport which is a cherished part of Britain's heritage and culture.

“Our message to Government is clear: axe the racing tax and back British Racing.”

Paul Johnson, chief executive of the National Trainers Federation, added, “Cancelling fixtures is a huge sacrifice by racing and should serve as a stark reminder to the Government of the impact its tax raid will have on our sport.”

 

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