Time for racing and betting to work together

The government has come to its decision about what rate bookmakers should pay under the new central funding system for racing and it would be no surprise if both sides have been told to start getting on and work together.

While there remains a risk that a betting operator might challenge the ten per cent rate that sports minister Tracey Crouch has in mind, it is a request both sides should heed.

Racing is bookmaker's most expensive product given the additional cost of media rights, and a spirit of partnership needs to be fostered between the two sides.