'I stand firmly behind the racing industry' - politicians back strike action in protest against tax harmonisation

British racing’s planned strike next month in protest against proposals to harmonise online betting duties has received more backing from racecourses and politicians, with Newmarket’s MP declaring: “I stand firmly behind the racing industry.”

Nick Timothy, whose West Suffolk constituency contains Newmarket, was joined by fellow Conservative Louie French, shadow sports minister and MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, and Lord Herbert in rallying behind the action on September 10.

David Armstrong, chief executive of the Racecourse Association (RCA), said the voluntary decision to hold a blank day, at an estimated cost to the sport of £200,000, was “a last resort” but that increasing the tax would result in the sport being “placed into irreversible decline” and that the government “must understand what they stand to lose”.

The BHA revealed on Saturday night that four fixtures scheduled for Wednesday, September 10 would be moved to create a day without racing, a voluntary act that is without precedent in the modern history of the sport.

The wipeout of action is dovetailing with an ‘Axe the Racing Tax’ event in Westminster being hosted by the BHA on the same day at which the concerns of the sport will be put directly to politicians.

Timothy, who is also vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Racing and Bloodstock, said: “I stand firmly behind the racing industry. They have never done this before, and this action should send a powerful message to the government. 

MP Nick Timothy: great British success story is being put at risk

"The ‘Racing Tax’ will punish owners, trainers, and jockeys – and not just jeopardise the racing industry itself but breeding too – by robbing them of income when profit margins are tight and global competition is fierce. 

“[Chancellor] Rachel Reeves needs to find another way to fix her mistakes instead of putting a great British success story like horseracing at risk.”

A Treasury consultation into harmonising the rates of duty paid by bookmakers on different products closed last month, with the BHA outlining how a rise from the 15 per cent bookmakers pay on the sport would result in a significant hit to racing’s finances.

Modelling produced for the BHA showed harmonisation at 21 per cent – the rate bookmakers pay for casino-style games – would lead to an annual drop in income for racing of at least £66 million, rising to £160m if the rates climbed to 40 per cent.

Writing on X, Lord Herbert said the strike was “a sign of how serious the situation facing racing is”, while French said the potential tax increases risked undermining the sport and boosting unregulated black market betting sites.

He said: “The unprecedented move to cancel racing highlights the urgency for the government to change course and axe the proposed racing tax. 

“Rather than backing British racing and positive reforms that will unlock inward investment to our much loved sport, the government’s latest tax proposals will further fuel the black market, hurting jobs, punters and racing in the process.”

Support for the blank day of racing has come from the likes of Martin Cruddace, chief executive of Arena Racing, Baroness Harding, senior steward of the Jockey Club, champion trainer John Gosden, and Louise Norman, chief executive of the Racehorse Owners Association.

While the Betting and Gaming Council, which was not consulted about the strike, said it was “concerned that futile political gestures will only antagonise the government and frustrate punters”, the RCA’s David Armstrong said it was right for racing to take a strong position.

“The RCA is fully supportive of the unprecedented strike action,” he said. “Such action is a last resort, but it is imperative the government is clear on what will happen should the proposed harmonisation of online gambling tax come to pass.

“Colleagues from across the sport have been unified by this threat, which would see British horseracing placed into irreversible decline. From a racecourse perspective, the government must understand what they stand to lose; major employers, economic drivers and community hubs spanning rural and urban communities.  

“We are aware of the impact the strike will have on the sport’s workforce, the betting and broadcast industries and the paying customers. However, we believe the sacrifice of one day is essential to demonstrating the strength of feeling within the sport.”

Who is on the Gambling Strategy Committee?

British racing's Gambling Strategy Committee has been cited as having played a pivotal role in planning the day of protest set for September 10.

Membership of the group has not been publicised, but a list of members was provided on Monday by the BHA.

The full make-up of the committee is:

• Greg Swift (chair): BHA director of communications and corporate affairs
• Brant Dunshea: BHA acting chief executive
• David Jones: BHA interim independent chair
• Martin Cruddace: Arena Racing Company chief executive
• Jim Mullen: Jockey Club chief executive
• David Armstrong: Racecourse Association chief executive 
• Charlie Parker: Racehorse Owners Association president
• Paul Johnson: National Trainers Federation chief executive
• Alan Switzer: BHA chief financial officer
• Victoria Morgan: BHA head of policy and advocacy
  

Read these next:

John Gosden warns betting tax rise would ‘kill communities’ as British racing calls unprecedented one-day strike

British racing to cancel all meetings for one day in extraordinary strike over proposed gambling tax rise 

Out of character but brave and ballsy - racing drastically changes tack by inviting a public showdown with Keir Starmer 

'The more we can do to bring attention to the issue, the better' - trainers rally behind racing tax strike 

Write to your MP about the Racing Tax

Racing TV has created a template letter than can be used to email local MPs about your concerns over the 'racing tax'. Follow this link to access the template – it should not take more than a couple of minutes to complete.

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