Racing is now seen as an increasingly risky business - as trainers and breeders are finding to their cost
Racing finds itself in a strange position. Too many people who follow the sport still don’t seem to be fully aware of the threat posed to it by the government’s review of gambling legislation; others, including those from outside racing, seem dangerously aware of it.
The potential consequences of some of the proposals in the government’s white paper have been spelled out in these pages over many months, particularly the impact on racing’s income from betting if stringent and intrusive affordability checks are passed into law.
A petition calling for a halt to affordability checks has subsequently been signed by more than 86,000 people, but I fancy we’d be well into six figures if more of those who enjoy watching and betting on racing were taking the current threat to the sport’s future as seriously as it seems those working in financial institutions are.
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Published on 20 November 2023inPeter Scargill
Last updated 15:07, 20 November 2023
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- Coolmore's great expectations will need to be rethought after City Of Troy mirrors Auguste Rodin with Guineas flop
- Chelmsford on a Saturday morning proves a surprise hit - but the big issues still need to be solved
- 'It just grinds you down' - three owners on why they are growing increasingly fed up with British racing
- Doom and gloom for Nicky Henderson - but the Cheltenham Festival can still provide salvation
- Monbeg Genius looks likely to line up in the Grand National - let's just hope he doesn't go on to win