'Bewildering and senseless' - Westminster frustration at horsemen decision

Political allies of British racing have voiced their frustration at horsemen rejecting a £5 million prize-money agreement with Arena Racing Company (Arc) and indicated the decision was likely to harm the chances of greatly-desired reforms to the levy.

A deal that would have led to Arc injecting £3.7m into prize-money in return for nine-race cards being run on the all-weather between November and March – generating an additional £1.3m in levy – faltered over the weekend after the National Trainers Federation (NTF) and Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) accused Arc of trying to “bounce” them into signing up at the last minute.

The stance was labelled “bewildering and senseless” by Philip Davies MP, vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Racing and Bloodstock and a recent nominee to the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) council, while Viscount Astor, a staunch racing supporter and member of the House of Lords, described the decision as “surprising”.