Longstanding owner Moss to focus on Australia in protest over prize-money

Owner Malcolm Moss has blamed poor prize-money in Britain for a decision to switch his interest to Australia.

Dashing Poet secured a first prize of £3,752 for landing the mile handicap at Southwell on Tuesday, but it may prove one of Moss’s last winners in the country as he winds down.

Moss, who has been involved in racehorse ownership for more than 40 years, said: "I'm giving up now and have sent the majority of my horses to Australia simply because the prize-money is so much better there.

"We've got horses with Archie Alexander, Matt Cumani and Kris Lees out there. The economics make more sense to have horses out there rather than here.

“I worked it out the other day that I've put over £1 million into British racing, and although there is the satisfaction of winning, it does not outweigh the costs over here.

“Some racecourses could not care less about British owners, and particularly the smaller owners, any more. The smaller owners who have two or three horses are just getting knocked out of the game. It's a really sad state of affairs."

Prize-money levels in Britain are under the spotlight after the decision by Arena Racing Company (Arc), which owns Southwell, to reduce its contribution by £3m in 2019 because of fears its media rights income will be hit by betting shop closures as a result of the government’s decision to cut FOBT stakes to £2.

The cuts have been branded a ‘disgrace’ by Ralph Beckett, and fellow trainer Alan King shared his concern.

Alan King: 'Nobody knows the full effect of FOBT cuts until they actually happen'Credit: Hugh Routledge

“Nobody knows the full effect the FOBT restrictions are going to have until they actually happen and I hope this will prove to have been a knee-jerk reaction,” wrote King in his Weekender column.

“But I'm worried this could be the first of many similar moves and I just hope the effect will not be as drastic as some people fear.”

Trainer Jimmy Moffatt, speaking at Catterick on Tuesday, said: "It's not good news. I agree with Ralph Beckett and I just hope this is not the thin end of the wedge."

Charles Barnett, who represents the large independent courses Ascot, Ayr, Chester, Goodwood, Newbury and York, said their prize-money levels were expected to be maintained, although they would be constantly monitored.

He said: "The large independents managed to maintain prize-money during the recent years of significant levy decline, effectively underpinning the reductions in central funding.

"Unfortunately, the industry faces another challenge now. The impact of FOBT reductions in stakes, for perfectly understandable wider reasons, is certain to impact the more positive position the industry found itself in 2018.

"Each large independent racecourse operates a different business model. Prize-money for 2019 is expected to remain broadly the same as in 2018 but the position will be constantly monitored, and whether this is sustainable will be determined as the landscape becomes clearer."

Chelmsford chief executive Phil Siers said betting shop closures would have an effect but that the course still planned to offer the best prizes on the all-weather.

Phil Siers: Che;lmsford chief executive planning to offer best prize-money on the all-weatherCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "Chelmsford remains committed to providing the highest level of all-weather prize-money in the industry and has no reason to believe that this will not continue in 2019, but the potential loss of a large number of LBOs [licensed betting offices] will have an effect.

"This should still mean CCR's executive contribution matches or exceeds our peers' 2018 levels. Without doubt if you want to race on the all-weather then Chelmsford will provide the highest prizes."

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