‘Pathetic’ restrictions on punters are doing massive damage to racing - and the sport’s leaders are complicit
One thing can often lead to another – and it did a few days ago in Yorkshire.
My trip to Rishi Sunak's Richmond constituency was arranged to gauge local opinion on the Conservative government's plan to formalise affordability checks. What became strikingly obvious in one of Britain's racing heartlands was trainers, punters, bookmakers and racegoers are vehemently opposed to the state dictating how we spend our own money. Also laid bare was the enormous damage affordability checks are doing to a sport that fears Sunak's draconian approach to gambling will create even more destructive waves in an already rough sea.
There was something else that seemed to unite people.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inLee Mottershead
Last updated
- Racing has been given a priceless opportunity - but insight and access cannot be just for Friday nights
- With a quivering but unequivocal voice, the racing family sends love to John and Amy Hunt
- Racing needs to build on Starmer's positive early signals - which means not bringing a former Tory MP to the BHA
- Crass optics of Tony Martin celebrating a Newcastle winner cannot have helped racing’s image
- 'No place on earth that can compare to the lusciousness of what you have here' - Royal Ascot gave British racing good reason to feel proud
- Racing has been given a priceless opportunity - but insight and access cannot be just for Friday nights
- With a quivering but unequivocal voice, the racing family sends love to John and Amy Hunt
- Racing needs to build on Starmer's positive early signals - which means not bringing a former Tory MP to the BHA
- Crass optics of Tony Martin celebrating a Newcastle winner cannot have helped racing’s image
- 'No place on earth that can compare to the lusciousness of what you have here' - Royal Ascot gave British racing good reason to feel proud