BARELY a furlong from the entrance of the Houses of Parliament, the message from racing was loud and clear.
If the government goes ahead with proposals to raise the rate of tax on horse betting, thousands of jobs would be lost and this great sport will enter a perilous decline.
GettyEight jockeys (L-R: Kieran Shoemark, Oisin Murphy, Saffie Osborne, Lilly Pinchin, Richard Johnson, Hollie Doyle, Tom Marquand and Paul O’Brien) joined the racing strike in London[/caption]
GettyJohn Gosden gave an impassioned speech in Westminster[/caption]
It remains to be seen if MPs were paying attention as the game’s great and good descended on Westminster for the unprecedented racing strike, which saw four fixtures at Carlisle, Lingfield, Kempton and Uttoxeter cancelled.
That was easier said than done given there was another – significantly more disruptive – strike going on in London with tube staff having walked out for the week.
It meant several of the jockeys who were due to be at the QEII Convention Centre for a 1pm photoshoot were late as they got stuck in traffic trying to get across London.
Harry Cobden was so late, in fact, that Paul O’Brien had to stand in for him as eight jockeys, decked out in white silks with ‘Axe The Racing Tax’ across their chests held a banner sporting the same message in Parliament Square.
Oisin Murphy, Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle also joined the protest, as did at least 50 of the sport’s top trainers and owners.
The treasury is proposing to ‘harmonise’ the rates of tax on horse betting (15 per cent) and online casino games (21 per cent), a move which the BHA says will cost the sport £66 million in the first year alone and put nearly 3,000 jobs at risk.
John Gosden gave an impassioned speech, as did BHA chief Brant Dunshea and Arena Racing boss Martin Cruddace, and he warned the consequences for the sport would be dire.
Gosden said: “When I first set up in Newmarket in the mid 1970’s, we were in a terrible state.
“If the government goes ahead with these proposals, I fear they will return the sport to those very dark days.
“It’s important that the government grasp that turf racing and breeding in this country are the best in the world, I don’t think they seem to comprehend it.
“If they think it is the right place to go, they will undermine and destroy this great industry.”
Speaking for the first time in public since taking the role of BHA chairman, Lord Charles Allen said it was important for racing to stay united.
He said: “I think although we’ve done a good job, what I am particularly proud about today is this industry is standing shoulder to shoulder.
“As a politician it’s easier to brush things off when you have got different people with different objectives and I think what we need to do going forward is be shoulder to shoulder on a number of issues, whether it is affordability, the levy or this.
“There is a lot of goodwill but there’s much to be done. My challenge to all of you is go away from today and get in touch with your MP and your local authorities because we play a really important role in society both domestically and internationally.”
The Treasury made a statement early on Wednesday morning, saying: “The Chancellor has been clear that speculation on tax rises, which is what this is, is not only inaccurate, but also irresponsible.
“We have not announced an increase in the tax on horserace betting, and racecourse betting currently gets a 100 per cent tax break which we have no plans to change.
“Our wider gambling consultation is only about levelling the playing field and simplifying the system, and we are working closely with the industry to understand any potential impacts.”
Racing will learn its fate when Rachel Reeves announces her autumn budget in November, and Cruddace said the sports leaders will continue trying to get racing’s message across over the next couple of months.
There is a hell of a lot riding on this – let’s hope those in power take off their blinkers.
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
