British horse racing will stage a one-day strike in protest towards the federal government’s proposed tax rise on betting on the game.
No fixtures will happen on 10 September after 4 conferences have been rescheduled by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), which says a tax hike would hit income and jobs.
It’s an unprecedented move however what does it imply, what is going to occur on the day and the way have we received right here?
What fixtures have been rescheduled?
The next conferences have been switched to go away a clean day on Wednesday 10 September.
Lingfield Park (afternoon) – 8 September (afternoon)
Carlisle (afternoon) – 9 September (night)
Uttoxeter (afternoon) – 11 September (night)
Kempton Park (night) – 15 September (night)
What is going to occur on 10 September?
There will likely be no racing in Britain, with main jockeys, trainers and homeowners as a substitute attending an occasion at Westminster the place they are going to foyer MPs.
It’s the eve of the four-day St Leger assembly at Doncaster, which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer attended final yr, and is the primary time the game has voluntarily refused to race in its fashionable historical past.
Racing will likely be held within the Republic of Eire, the place the only real fixture takes place at Cork.
What are the federal government proposals?
The Treasury is seeking to carry current on-line betting duties into one single price.
This might improve the 15% tax price paid by bookmakers on racing and align it with on-line gaming, similar to on line casino and slot video games, which is presently taxed at 21%.
A Treasury spokesperson mentioned: “We’re consulting on bringing the therapy of on-line betting consistent with different types of on-line playing to chop down forms.
“It’s not about rising or lowering charges, and we welcome views from all stakeholders together with companies, commerce our bodies, the third sector and people.”
How would tax rises hit horse racing?
Horse racing is the second-biggest spectator sport in Britain, behind soccer, with greater than 1,400 fixtures a yr.
Racing’s leaders concern elevated prices for betting operators would result in much less promotion and sponsorship of the game, worse odds and diminished bonuses for patrons – making betting on racing much less enticing, and doubtlessly turning folks in the direction of the black market.
Betting turnover has already been hit by affordability checks for punters geared toward limiting drawback playing.
Decreased turnover has a knock-on impact as main bookmakers should give 10% of racing income through a levy, which raises greater than £100m a yr, and is used towards race prize cash and serving to the game in different methods.
Activists and a few MPs consider elevated taxes may assist fund welfare spending and sort out dangerous playing.
Financial evaluation commissioned by the BHA has proven that aligning the present tax price paid by bookmakers on racing with on-line video games of likelihood may see a £330m income hit to the trade within the first 5 years.
It suggests 2,752 jobs will likely be put in danger within the first yr alone.
What has the response been to the strike?
Main jumps coach Nicky Henderson is amongst these to again the motion.
“I’m not essentially an individual who’s in favour of utilizing strikes as a software, however the message has received to get throughout that this tax may very well be crippling,” he mentioned.
“It’s not a weapon I’d ordinarily counsel we flip to, however below the circumstances I’d say we most likely have little alternative.”
However the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents betting outlets, on-line betting and gaming operators and casinos, says it was not consulted.
“Racing’s choice to reschedule fixtures was taken with out session with betting operators, whose help for the funding of the game is mission crucial,” it mentioned in a press release.
“We’re involved that futile political gestures will solely antagonise the federal government and frustrate punters as a substitute of delivering an answer to a shared problem dealing with each racing and betting.”
Will the strike motion value the game?
The influence will likely be offset by the fixtures being rearranged, however there will likely be an estimated value of round £200,000 in misplaced income on the day.
BHA chief government Brant Dunshea informed BBC Radio 5 Stay: “It is actually not a choice we’ve taken flippantly.
“The trade is united in saying that value is a small worth to pay for guaranteeing we ship a transparent and loud message to authorities.”
The game believes racing betting, which sees punters research kind and use their data to position bets, ought to be handled in a different way to on-line video games of likelihood which provide fixed-profit margins for operators.
“Racing is greater than only a sport, it is a cherished a part of our tradition and we’re a significant employer. We’re totally different to on-line casinos,” mentioned Dunshea.
Is that this a one-off strike?
No extra strikes are deliberate as issues stand.
The motion is designed to publicise the BHA’s ‘Axe the Racing Tax’ marketing campaign. Its petition towards the tax proposals had round 10,000 signatures when the strike was introduced on 16 August.
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