British horse racing’s governing body announced plans for an unprecedented voluntary stoppage, with no racing to take place on September 10 in protest against a proposed change to the taxation of online gambling.

The British Horseracing Authority agreed with racecourse operators to move four meetings originally scheduled for that date. The affected fixtures were at Lingfield Park, Carlisle, Uttoxeter and Kempton Park. The action was described as the first time in the sport’s modern history that British racing had voluntarily declined to race because of government proposals. [6572][6573]

The dispute concerned a Treasury consultation on replacing three online gambling duties with a single remote gambling tax. Racing’s current rate was 15%, while online games of chance were taxed at 21%. The BHA feared that aligning the categories could raise the duty applied to bets on horse racing to 21%, and launched its industry-wide “Axe the Racing Tax” campaign in response. [6572][6573]

The government disputed the characterization of the consultation as a decision to raise rates. A Treasury spokesperson said the objective was to bring the treatment of online betting into line with other forms of online gambling and reduce bureaucracy. The spokesperson said the consultation was not about increasing or decreasing rates and invited submissions from businesses, trade bodies, third-sector organizations and individuals. [6572][6573]

BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea said the one-day action was intended to demonstrate what the authority regarded as the potentially serious consequences of the proposal. He argued that racing was already in a fragile financial position and urged the government to reconsider any change that could harm the sport and employment connected to it. [6572]

According to economic analysis cited by the BHA, the proposed tax alignment could result in an estimated £330 million reduction in revenue and put 2,752 jobs at risk during the first year. Those estimates were the governing body’s projections rather than confirmed outcomes. The BHA also said British horse racing contributed £4.1 billion to the UK economy and supported 85,000 jobs. [6573]

The rearranged program placed Lingfield Park’s afternoon fixture on September 8 and moved Uttoxeter’s meeting to the evening of September 11. Kempton Park’s affected fixture was rescheduled for the evening of September 15, while another Kempton evening meeting previously set for that date was shifted to September 18. BBC Sport reported that Carlisle was also among the four rearranged fixtures, although its excerpt did not specify the replacement date. [6573]

The planned stoppage fell one day before the opening of the four-day St Leger festival at Doncaster. While racing can be suspended because of bad weather, equine disease or national emergencies, the September 10 action was distinguished by its deliberate use as an industry protest. [6573]

Jim Mullen, chief executive of The Jockey Club, which operates 15 racecourses, said the pause was intended to encourage consideration of racing’s economic and cultural significance. The government, however, maintained that no tax rate decision had been made through the consultation itself. [6573]