Owner who raised £1m with Cheltenham song barred from betting on racing

A longstanding owner who also trained more than 50 point-to-point winners and was behind the racing charity song Cheltenham has been told by a leading bookmaker that he is no longer welcome to bet on the sport with them.

Richard Gurney is a racing devotee who famously assembled a collection of racing personalities to sing a song he wrote to the tune of Petula Clark's hit single Downtown. The revamped 2010 version entitled Cheltenham reached number 12 in the Irish charts and made it into the UK's top 150, in the process contributing to Gurney-led efforts that over a number of years raised more than £1 million for charity.

"I've been gambling on horses all my life," he said. "I have had phenomenal years, when I wouldn't have needed to work that year because I won so much, and dreadful years, when I've had to work twice as hard. The reason I do it is because racing is more fun for me if I've had a bet."

However, Gurney, who used to do his betting with Betfair, discovered in October that his account had been frozen and it was then closed at Gurney's behest when he refused to submit bank statements and tax returns. He is one of several punters who spoke to the Racing Post this week about the agony of affordability checks for a major feature in Sunday's newspaper.

"I don't see why, at the age of 55, I should accept some guy on the phone suggesting I might have a gambling problem when I know I'm totally in control," he said.

"It made me feel that there was something wrong with me. I know I'm becoming a bit of a dinosaur but I think we have enough of a nanny state already without me giving Betfair what would amount to all my personal financial information, details of what I earned and when I earned it, plus all the other transactions. I'm afraid that's just a step too far. It's the sort of information that has nothing to do with them."

Read more from Richard Gurney and other affected punters in The Big Read, available in Sunday's newspaper or online for Members' Club Ultimate subscribers from 6pm on Saturday. Click here to sign up.

Read these next:

Ed Chamberlin: racing cannot afford to lose punters caught up in affordability checks 

Highclere boss: British racing could be 'ripped to pieces' by intrusive affordability checks

Members' Club special offer: get exclusive tips and insight FREE for one month 

Stay ahead of the field with the ultimate racing subscription – and your first month FREE. Enjoy the Racing Post digital newspaper and award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, and make informed betting decisions with our expert tipping and form study tools. Head to the subscription page and select 'Get Ultimate Monthly', then enter the code FREE to get Members' Club free for one month.

First month free, subscription renews at full monthly price thereafter.

Customers wishing to cancel will need to contact us at least seven days before their subscription is due to renew.