The British Horseracing Authority has rescheduled several races in protest against a proposed tax rise on horserace betting in the UK.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has stated that all race meetings scheduled for 10 September will be shifted to alternate dates, in protest against a proposed tax rise on horse racing betting in the UK.
The move, which comes alongside the industry’s “Axe the Racing Tax” campaign, marks the first time in modern history that British racing has voluntarily refused to stage fixtures.
The action comes on the eve of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster, one of the sport’s most significant annual events.
Instead of racing, senior leaders, owners, trainers, and jockeys will gather in Westminster to underline their opposition to the Treasury’s plan to align betting duties with those levied on online casino games.
Four meetings originally scheduled for 10 September have been rescheduled:
- Lingfield Park moves to 8 September
- Carlisle moves to 9 September
- Uttoxeter moves to 11 September
- Kempton Park moves to 15 September
- In addition, the 15 September fixture at Kempton Park moves to 18 September
Currently, bookmakers pay a 15% duty on bets placed on racing. The proposed harmonisation would increase this to 21%, the rate charged on online casino games.
A study commissioned by the BHA warns that such a change could cost the industry £330m in the first five years and put almost 3,000 jobs at risk in the first year alone.
Operators, the study argues, would likely respond by raising costs, reducing bonuses, and cutting marketing spend, eroding racing’s revenue streams.
The BHA’s CEO, Brant Dunshea, said the decision to suspend racing was not taken lightly but was necessary to demonstrate the seriousness of the threat.
He stressed in the announcement that British racing was already in a fragile financial position and that additional taxation could exacerbate its decline, undermining the 85,000 jobs the sport supports and the £4.1bn it contributes to the economy annually.
BHA: Only real course of action
Senior figures across the industry echoed these warnings.
The Jockey Club’s Jim Mullen urged the government to reflect on the harm the tax could cause to one of Britain’s most successful sports, while Arena Racing Company’s Martin Cruddace described the plan as an existential threat.
He argued that equating horse racing betting with online slots was a false dichotomy, given racing’s cultural significance, employment contribution, and lower levels of gambling-related harm.
Paul Johnson of the National Trainers Federation said the rescheduling of fixtures was a heavy sacrifice but necessary to highlight the stakes involved.
He warned that communities across Britain risk losing a vital social and economic asset if the government presses ahead.
In response, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) challenged the BHA’s decision. While acknowledging the risks posed by higher taxation, it criticised the organisation for failing to consult betting operators before announcing fixture cancellations.
The BGC said such political gestures risk antagonising the government and inconveniencing punters, rather than producing solutions.
It warned that additional costs could drive customers toward unregulated markets, which provide no revenue to the sport or Treasury and offer no consumer safeguards.
The BGC highlighted that the regulated betting industry contributes £6.8bn to the UK economy, generates £4bn in tax, and supports over 100,000 jobs, as well as contributing £350m annually to the racing sector.
It stressed the need for a collaborative approach rather than unilateral action.