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The
four scheduled meetings that day — at Carlisle, Uttoxeter,
Lingfield and Kempton — will not take place after agreements
between the owners of the courses and the British Horseracing
Authority, making it the first time the sport in Britain has
voluntarily refused to race in modern history.
The BHA set up the “Axe the Racing Tax” campaign in response to
proposals to replace the existing three-tax structure of online
gambling duties with a single tax, with fears the current 15%
duty on racing could be increased to the 21% levied on games of
chance.
Brant Dunshea, chief executive at the British Horseracing
Authority, said the strike intends to “highlight to (the)
government the serious consequences of the treasury’s tax
proposals which threaten the very future of our sport.”
“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," Dunshea
said.
“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."
The British government said it was bringing the “treatment of
online betting in line with other forms of online gambling to
cut down bureaucracy.”
“It is not about increasing or decreasing rates,” the government
said, "and we welcome views from all stakeholders including
businesses, trade bodies, the third sector and individuals.”
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