'It would be a massive concern' - trainers add voice to gambling review fears

With the traditional start of the Flat season approaching, some of the sport's biggest trainers have expressed their concerns over the potential impact of the gambling review, following predictions stricter legislation could cost the British racing industry more than £100 million a year.

Flat trainers focused on getting their teams ready for the start of a new season on Saturday received a rude awakening with the dire warnings that strident action around affordability checks, advertising and sponsorship could "kill racing stone dead", according to British racing's Gambling Strategy Group member Charlie Parker.

The possibility of intrusive affordability checks, whereby customers are asked to provide personal financial information to bookmakers, continues to cast a shadow over British racing and, set alongside spiralling operational costs, such as fuel, bedding and insurance, it leaves trainers facing mounting pressures.

'It could affect everything'

Addressing the possible impact of the gambling review, the white paper for which is expected to be published in May, Derby-winning trainer Marcus Tregoning said: "It would be a massive concern. The racing industry employs a huge number of people and what we don't want is any form of collapse. Prize-money is at its bare minimum as it is.

"You will always have problem gambling, as you will with other vices. For donkey's years racing has survived and people have enjoyed having a bet. It's been the bread and butter of our sport that so many people have watched meetings like Ascot, the Grand National and Cheltenham.

"You don't want to take everything away from everybody, especially as we're in such tough economic times. People need a bit of a release sometimes and if they like to have a little bit of a bet, they should be left alone to do it. People need a bit of light and fun. It's not just about problem gamblers with this, as it could affect everything."

Marcus Tregoning: worried about the potential impact of the gambling review on racingCredit: Edward Whitaker

He added: "I've had problem gamblers working for me and we will help anybody as much as we possibly can and point them in the right direction to get help, including in house, like a lot of trainers do.

"Politically it's very difficult to say as people are addicted to all sorts of things, not just gambling. We've got to be aware but don't condemn it as obviously it's going to affect this great sport and people's enjoyment of it."

The chancellor Rishi Sunak has been raising the racing industry's concerns over the gambling review and this week he submitted a second letter to ministerial colleagues at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Middleham trainer Karl Burke, whose yard sits in Sunak's Richmond constituency, said: "If the figures are right, it would have to be a grave concern for everybody. There must be a massive lobby to government to let the people who are going to make these decisions know what a big problem it will be going forward for racing's finances.

"Are they prepared to put a huge industry like racing in jeopardy? Putting aside the emotions of the problems certain people have with gambling, there's got to be a financial balance. The government could end up losing a huge amount in its revenue and common sense has to prevail."

'It could kill racing stone dead' – dire warnings of £100m hit to the sport

Fellow trainer Ralph Beckett, recently appointed new president of the National Trainers Federation (NTF), added: "If restrictions come about because of the gambling review, it is because bookmakers had only one concern – their bottom line. They will have bled the punter and this sport dry."

The NTF released its own statement, which read: "The NTF continues to represent trainers as part of racing's Gambling Strategy Group, which is considering data as to what the implications of potential policy outcomes in the review could mean for the sport.

"It is important to say that we do understand the need for the review and welcome the recent commitment from [gambling] minister [Chris] Philp that he intends to avoid damage to British racing.

"Nonetheless, there is no doubt that the most stringent measures being proposed in some quarters would prove extremely damaging to the sport and those working in it, and it is right that we are prepared to demonstrate these impacts to the government."

Read more on this subject:

Chancellor Rishi Sunak raises racing industry's concerns over gambling review

'Change is needed and change is coming' – gambling minister on reform rally

Racing warned gambling review poses 'clear and present danger' to sport's future

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday