Racing set for strike action on historic blank day

British racing will come to a halt on Wednesday as the sport seeks to demonstrate its opposition to proposed betting tax changes.

It was announced last month fixtures scheduled for Carlisle, Uttoxeter, Lingfield and Kempton would be cancelled as racecourses, owners, trainers and jockeys voluntarily refused to race for the first time in modern history in protest at suggestions the existing three-tax structure of online gambling duties could be condensed into a single tax.

There are fears the current 15 per cent duty on racing could be increased to the 21 per cent levied on games of chance, which would seriously impact racing’s finances, and the British Horseracing Authority’s acting chief executive Brant Dunshea feels it is important for the sport to make a united stand.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing at Windsor on Monday evening, he said: “We’re trying to create a space when leaders from across the sport, stakeholders and participants can come together at the heart of government, in Westminster, and sound out our clear message to government around the proposal to harmonise the betting duties.

“And that is that we don’t support that and we believe British racing should be treated differently to other betting products because of all the wonderful things we bring to Britain’s social fabric – 85,000 jobs across the country, we support communities right across the nation and we are global leaders and an important soft power lever for government.”

A major campaign event will be held in Westminster on the day, with senior leaders joined by owners, trainers and jockeys to highlight a threat the BHA estimates could cost the sport £330million over the first five years.