Charlie Austin: racing is on its backside and there's no incentive for owners

Premier League striker and racehorse owner Charlie Austin has expressed his fear for the future of British racing because of prize-money levels, saying "there is no incentive for owners to be involved in racing".

Austin, 31, who plays for newly-promoted West Brom, was speaking to the Racing Post as part of the weekly 'Popping the Questions' feature for Sunday's newspaper, and as an owner and founder of syndicate group Excel Racing, Austin revealed he was struggling to remain positive about racing.

"The biggest struggle for me has been to stay in love with the game," said Austin. "Racing is really on its backside and there's no incentive for owners to be involved in racing. Even the social side of it is falling apart."

Austin went on to express his frustration with falling prize-money and fears British racing could soon pay the price.

He said: "The prize-money is that embarrassing that it's hardly worth talking about. It barely covers anybody's training bills and if it doesn't improve then people will walk away from the game. Ed Vaughan is having to stop at the end of the year and he won't be the only one.

"There's going to be yearling sales soon and they'll be sold for more than £50,000, and I've no idea when those owners will get that money back. It doesn't add up."

Charlie Austin: West Brom striker helped get the Baggies back in the Premier League but is also involved in ownership through Excel RacingCredit: Richard Heathcote (Getty Images)

As well as discussing his path into horseracing, Austin also revealed some of his football career highlights and how he expects West Brom to fare this season.

"The plan is to stay there and get as many points as we can," he said. "If you go into it negatively then you’re going to perform negatively. We just need to perform the best we can with a few additions and go from there. Hopefully with the team we’ve got we can stay up."

Sunday's newspaper also features a major interview with top jockey William Buick, who discusses Ghaiyyath's remarkable season and the traumatic head injury he suffered last year.

Find out more about Charlie Austin in Popping the Questions, available to members from 6pm on Saturday or in Sunday's Racing Post newspaper. Join Members' Club here.