The British pace to go on strike for the first time to protest against the government’s tax plans | Racing news

The British Horseracing Authority announced that no racing meeting would take place in Great Britain on September 10 while sport protests against the proposal for a tax increase in the bets on the Cresss.

It will be the first time that the sport voluntarily refuses to run in its modern history.

The announcement comes as the British Racing’s “Ax the Racing Tax” campaign comes before the fall budget.

The campaign urges the government to chop the treasure proposal to provide existing online rights in a single tax band.

Four racing meetings scheduled for September 10 at Lingfield Park, Carlisle, Uttoxeter and Kempton Park will no longer take place that day and will be reprogrammed.

On the same day, sport will organize a major campaign event in Westminster where senior leaders will be joined by owners, trainers and jockeys to highlight the threat of the treasure proposal on an industry worth 4.1 billion pounds sterling for the British economy.

The economic analysis commissioned by the BHA has shown that the alignment of the current tax rate of 15% paid by bookmakers on the race with that of online games – currently imposed at 21% – could have a destructive impact on sport, with a turnover of 330 million pounds sterling in the first five years and by putting 2,752 risky jobs in the first year.

Indeed, Paris operators should seek to compensate for any tax increase by increasing prices, reducing bonuses, reducing advertising and marketing budgets.

Racing’s decision not to run on September 10 is unprecedented. Race meetings in Great Britain take place over 363 days a year, with the exception of certain seasonal holidays.

With the exception of meetings canceled due to the unfavorable weather, the equine virus epidemic and the national crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be the first time in history that sport has made a collective decision not to run to protest a government proposal.

Brant Dunshea, director general of British Horseracing Authority, said: “We decided to make the unprecedented decision to cancel our racing matches scheduled for September 10 to highlight the serious consequences of the Treasury Treasury proposals that threaten the future of our sport.

“The British race is already in a precarious financial situation and research has shown that a tax increase in the race could be catastrophic for sport and the thousands of jobs that rely on cities and communities across the country.

“This is the first time that British races have chosen not to run because of government proposals. We have not made this decision lightly, but in doing so, we urge the government to rethink this tax proposal to protect the future of our sport, which is part of British heritage and culture.

“Our message to the government is clear: ax the racing tax and return the British races.”