The racing tax strike explained: when it's happening, why it's happening and which tracks are involved

British racing is to stage a one-day strike on Wednesday, September 10 to protest against Treasury plans to raise taxes on horserace betting. Here is everything you need to know

What is happening?

All four meetings due to take place on Wednesday, September 10 have been rescheduled, making it a blank day in Britain.

Instead, racing will host a major campaign event in Westminster, where senior leaders will be joined by owners, trainers and jockeys to highlight the threat of the Treasury’s proposal on an industry which is worth £4.1 billion to the UK economy.

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

The fixtures originally scheduled for September 10 at Lingfield, Carlisle, Uttoxeter and Kempton have been rescheduled as follows:

• - Lingfield (afternoon) moves to September 8 (afternoon)
• - Carlisle (afternoon) moves to September 9 (evening)
• - Uttoxeter (afternoon) moves to September 11 (evening)
• - Kempton (evening) moves to September 15 (evening)

As a knock-on effect, the evening meeting scheduled for Kempton on September 15 switches to September 18.

Will there be any racing that day?

There is racing in Ireland on September 10, with Cork due to stage an evening meeting scheduled to start at 4.17pm.

How much will the blank day cost the industry?

The cost of a blank day of racing is substantial. Every day on which there is no racing has an economic impact. The rearrangement of the fixtures to other days lessens that impact but it is estimated the loss of revenue, along with the cost of convening this event, will be in the region of £200,000.

What impact is it hoped to have?

The aim is to highlight the strength of racing’s concern at the tax proposals to the government, politicians, media and the public. To choose not to race is unprecedented and racing’s senior leaders will be in Westminster to raise these concerns to politicians on behalf of the industry.

What can people in racing do to support the campaign on September 10?

Racing staff may be working as usual but can support the campaign by signing the Axe The Racing Tax petition and supporting and reposting content on the BHA’s social media channels.They can also raise the issue direct with their MP, who will be able to write to the Treasury on their behalf to raise their concerns. 

More information on how you can play your part can be found here.

Are further strikes planned?

No. This is an unprecedented one-off step for the sport to show the strength of feeling at the government’s proposals to raise tax on horserace betting before the budget in the autumn.

Read more on the racing tax:

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

Thousands of job losses and £330 million in lost revenue if 'racing tax' goes ahead, warns BHA 

Punters will be footing the gambling tax bill – or simply moving to the black market to avoid it  

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.