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A first
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has taken the unprecedented step of holding a voluntary widespread boycott of racing on September 10 in protest of the UK government’s planned betting tax increases. It is calling its campaign “Axe the Racing Tax.”
meetings at Kempton Park, Uttoxeter, Carlisle and Lingfield Park won’t take place
This means that scheduled meetings at Kempton Park, Uttoxeter, Carlisle, and Lingfield Park won’t take place that day and will need rescheduling. Instead, BHA leaders, jockeys, trainers, and owners will head to Westminster to highlight the potential fallout if budget changes remain as they are.
Big money at stake
The BHA announced the strike action in a statement on Sunday, saying that the plan to bring online duties all in line with each other will have “devastating consequences” on the sport, which employs about 85,000 people and reportedly contributes £4.1bn ($5.5bn) to the economy.
a possible £330m ($446m) revenue drop in the initial five years after the changes
The BHA pointed to economic data it commissioned that showed a possible £330m ($446m) revenue drop in the initial five years after the changes, which could lead to the loss of 2,752 jobs in year one.
It believes sportsbook operators will try to claw back the money they’re losing to increasing the tax rate from 15% to 21% in the form of making odds less competitive, not offering as many bonuses, and cutting their marketing budgets.
Not a decision made lightly
Racing is a sport that usually takes place 363 days per year, the only exceptions being cancellations due to very poor weather, a national crisis like a pandemic, and outbreaks of equine virus.
Talking about this landmark action, BHA Chief Executive Brant Dunshea said that racing in the UK is already in a precarious financial position and that it hasn’t taken the decision to boycott lightly.
Across the water, prominent breeder John O’Connor is also asking Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) to boycott races on September 10 in solidarity with its British counterparts. He noted that Britain is a big market for the Irish racing industry and that any drop in fortunes would also hurt people in Ireland.
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