The British Riding Authority has announced that there is no race meetings in the UK on September 10, when the sport protests on the government’s proposed tax increase on Halskrace betting.
This will be the first time that the sport has voluntarily refused to run in its modern history.
The message comes as British Racing’s ‘AX Racing Tax’ campaign campaign continues before the autumn budget.
The campaign calls on the government to the ax’s proposal’s proposal to bring the existing online betting tasks to a tax band in a single rate.
Four scheduled race meetings on September 10 in Lingfield Park, Carlisle, Uttoxeter and Kempton Park will no longer take place that day and will be re -planned.
On the same day, the sport will host a major campaign event in Westminster, where senior leaders get together with owners, educators and jockeys to highlight the threat of the Treasury’s proposal for an industry worth 4.1 billion pounds to the British economy.
Economic analysis ordered by BHA has shown that adjusting the current tax rate of 15 percent paid by bookmakers on racing with that of online games – currently taxed at 21 percent – could have a destructive impact on the sport with an income of 330 million pounds to the industry for the first five years and put 2,752 jobs at risk in the first year alone.
This is because betting operators are likely to try to offset any tax increases through rising prices, cutting bonuses, reducing advertising and marketing budgets.
Racing’s decision not to run on September 10th is unprecedented. Racial meetings in the UK take place 363 days a year with the exception of certain seasonal holidays.
With the exception that meetings interrupted due to unfavorable weather, horse virus outbreaks and national crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, this will be the first time in history that the sport has made a collective decision not to run in protest on a government proposal.
Brant Dunshea, CEO of British Horseracing Authority said: “We have decided to make the unprecedented decision to cancel our planned racing fixtures on September 10 to highlight the government the serious consequences of the Treasury’s tax proposal that threatens our sport itself.
“British racing is already in an uncertain financial position, and research has shown that a tax increase in racing can be disastrous for the sport and the thousands of jobs that depend on it in cities and communities across the country.
“This is the first time that British Racing has chosen not to run because of the government’s proposal. We have not made this decision easily, but by doing so we encourage the government to consider this tax proposal to protect the future of our sport, which is a loved part of Britain’s heritage and culture.
“Our message to the government is clear: AX RACING TAX AND BACK BRITISH RACING.”