Culture secretary: racing can make significant contribution to community life

Culture secretary Jeremy Wright has told the House of Commons that horseracing can make a "significant contribution to not just our sporting life but broader community life".

Wright fielded a question from Laurence Robertson, the Conservative MP for Tewkesbury, on Thursday regarding the recent Racing Together Community Day and whether he can help support horseracing's attempt to reach out to younger people.

Wright replied: "Horseracing can make a significant contribution to not just our sporting life but broader community life and it is important that young people understand the sport and horses, and any opportunity the industry has to support that is welcome."

The annual Racing Together Community Day, held earlier this month, is an initiative to showcase how racing works in the local communities – more than 120 staff from 30 British racecourses gave up in excess of 750 hours.

Wright also fielded a question from Conor McGinn, the Labour MP for St Helens North, regarding an estimated levy yield £17 million below expectations, and what measures the government will take to ensure horseracing's long-term financial sustainability.

In response, Wright said: "The levy receipts this year will be lower than expected, but last year there was a very substantial increase because the government increased the levy to bring offshore bookmakers into scope.

"That was an important change to give the industry a broader and more substantial financial base. Of course we will look at future changes of the levy when appropriate to deal with any change in circumstances, but I think it is right to allow any changes made to the levy last year to bed in."

Wright's comments come at a time of political instability in Britain. Cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom on Wednesday resigned over the government's Brexit policy, while embattled prime minister Theresa May's future is shrouded in doubt. BoyleSports offer just evens she will leave her post by the end of the month.

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