LONDON — British horse racing went ahead Wednesday with its unprecedented one-day strike to protest a feared rise in taxes on race betting, with a top official in the sport urging the industry to \u201cstand together\u201d and \u201cmake their voices heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Four scheduled meetings \u2014 at Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Lingfield and Kempton \u2014 have been canceled and rescheduled after agreements between the owners of the courses and the British Horseracing Authority, making it the first time the sport in Britain has voluntarily refused to race in modern history.<\/p>\n
The BHA set up the \u201cAxe the Racing Tax\u201d campaign in response to proposals to replace the existing three-tax structure of online gambling duties with a single tax, with fears the current 15% duty on racing could be increased to the 21% levied on games of chance.<\/p>\n
Economic analysis commissioned by the BHA says such a rise could cost the sport at least 66 million pounds ($90 million) and put around 2,750 jobs at risk in the first year, in what BHA chairman Charles Allen described as \u201cnothing short of an existential threat for our sport.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need every part of our industry \u2014 trainers, jockeys, stable staff, racecourses, and fans \u2014 to stand together and make their voices heard,” Allen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are Britain\u2019s second largest spectator sport, supporting 85,000 jobs and delivering over 4 billion pounds ($5.4 billion) of economic value every year. Yet all of this is now being put at risk by a change that would devastate our funding model and the livelihoods that depend on it.”<\/p>\n
Allen said the protests are about \u201cprotecting communities across Britain\u201d and \u201csafeguarding a national institution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Previously, the British government said it was bringing the \u201ctreatment of online betting in line with other forms of online gambling to cut down bureaucracy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not about increasing or decreasing rates,\u201d the government said, \u201cand we welcome views from all stakeholders including businesses, trade bodies, the third sector and individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n
A decision on any tax change is expected in the British government’s budget on Nov. 26. Dan Tomlinson, exchequer secretary to the treasury, said horse racing\u2019s role in the \u201ccultural fabric\u201d of Britain is acknowledged and underlined there has been no announcement yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Chancellor has been clear that speculation on tax rises, which is what this is, is not only inaccurate, but also irresponsible,” Tomlinson said. “We have not announced an increase in the tax on horse-race betting, and racecourse betting currently gets a 100% tax break which we have no plans to change.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur wider gambling consultation,\u201d he added, “is only about leveling the playing field and simplifying the system, and we are working closely with the industry to understand any potential impacts.\u201d<\/p>\n
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