Racing’s Blackout Day – Owners urged to lend their support

On Wednesday 10 September, there will be no racing in Britain as the sport unites in protest the Government’s proposed rise in betting tax. This unprecedented “Blackout Day” marks the first time in modern history that the sport has voluntarily refused to race. Scheduled fixtures at Lingfield Park, Carlisle, Uttoxeter and Kempton Park will be rescheduled.

Below is a BHA press release detailing about the black out day for racing along with an event being held in Westminster to highlight the impact of this potential threat to parliamentarians and the treasury, as well as dates of re-scheduled fixtures. 

The ROA is urging all members and owners to lend their support by:

• Writing to your local MP and asking them to attend the Westminster event on 10 September. Find your local mp here https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
• Sign and share the #AxeTheRacingTax petition at www.axetheracingtax.com.

The ROA stands with the wider sport in opposing this damaging measure and will continue to champion the voice of owners in making the case for racing’s long-term sustainability.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced that no race meetings will take place in Britain on Wednesday 10th September as the sport takes the extraordinary step of refusing to race in protest at the Government’s proposed tax rise on horserace betting.

This will be the first time that the sport has voluntarily refused to race in its modern history.

The announcement comes as British Racing’s ‘Axe the Racing Tax’ campaign gears up in advance of the Autumn Budget. The campaign is urging the Government to axe the Treasury’s proposal to bring existing online betting duties into one single rate which would have devastating consequences for the nation’s second-largest spectator sport that supports 85,000 jobs and which is attended by almost 5 million people each year.

Four scheduled race meetings on 10th September – the day before the start of the historic four-day St Leger festival at Doncaster Racecourse – at Lingfield Park, Carlisle, Uttoxeter and Kempton Park will no longer take place that day and will be rescheduled.

On the same day, the sport will host a major campaign event in Westminster where senior leaders will be joined by owners, trainers and jockeys to highlight the threat of the Treasury’s proposal on an industry which is worth £4.1 billion to the UK economy.

Economic analysis commissioned by the BHA has shown that aligning the current 15% tax rate paid by bookmakers on racing with that of online games of chance – currently taxed at 21% – by harmonising all remote gambling duties, could have a destructive impact on the sport with a £330 million revenue hit to the industry in the first five years, and putting 2,752 jobs at risk in the first year alone.

This is because betting operators are likely to seek to offset any tax rises through increasing prices, cutting bonuses, reducing advertising and marketing budgets.

Racing’s decision not to race on 10th September is unprecedented. Race meetings in Britain take place on 363 days a year, with the exception of certain seasonal holidays. With the exception of meetings being called off due to adverse weather, equine virus outbreak and national crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, this will be the first time in history that the sport has taken a collective decision not to race in protest at a Government proposal.

Brant Dunshea, Chief Executive at the British Horseracing Authority said:

“We have decided to take the unprecedented decision to cancel our planned racing fixtures on 10th September to highlight to Government the serious consequences of the Treasury’s tax proposals which threaten the very future of our sport.

“British Racing is already in a precarious financial position and research has shown that a tax rise on racing could be catastrophic for the sport and the thousands of jobs that rely on it in towns and communities across the country.

“This is the first time that British Racing has chosen not to race due to Government proposals. We haven’t taken this decision lightly but in doing so we are urging the Government to rethink this tax proposal to protect the future of our sport which is a cherished part of Britain’s heritage and culture.

“Our message to Government is clear: axe the racing tax and back British Racing.”

Jim Mullen, CEO at The Jockey Club, said:

“Our sport has come together today, and by cancelling racing fixtures, we hope the Government will take a moment to reflect on the harm this tax will cause to a sport in which our country leads in so many ways. We hope this pause for reflection will enable the Government to truly understand the economic impact of horseracing and its cultural significance to communities across the UK, as well as the world-class racing festivals we host.

“After this period of reflection, we hope the full implications will be understood, and we can prevent the irreparable damage that threatens a sport the nation is, and should be, proud of.”

Martin Cruddace, CEO at Arena Racing Company, said:

“This is such an important day for our sport which faces an existential threat from this Government with its plan to harmonise tax on British horserace betting with online slots and casino games.

“Unlike online casino games, British horseracing makes an enormous contribution to society and employment, has vastly different rates of gambling related harm and is not available every ten seconds, twenty-four hours a day.

“We have always been taxed and regulated differently, and it is imperative for our future that we continue to be so.

“If the Government wants Britain to be a world leader in online casino and a world pauper in a sport at the heart of its culture, then tax harmonisation will achieve that aim.”

Paul Johnson, Chief Executive of the National Trainers Federation, said:

“Cancelling fixtures is a huge sacrifice by racing and should serve as a stark reminder to the Government of the impact its tax raid will have on our sport.

“Thousands of jobs are at stake alongside the loss of millions of pounds to the British economy.

“And it’s not just the sport that will suffer. Almost 5 million people go racing every year and across Britain communities will be robbed of a vital social, cultural and economic asset if the Treasury and No10 proceed with this tax grab.

“British Racing cannot survive on reputation alone and we call on the Government to set an enlightened tax regime that will allow the sport to thrive before we reach the point of no return.”