British racing's unprecedented one-day strike next month to highlight the catastrophic damage harmonizing online betting tax rates would inflict on the sport has received widespread support.
John Gosden and Sir Mark Prescott were among a number of leading trainers to express their backing for the strike action, first reported Aug. 16 with Gosden hopeful it would help the government to "recognize that we exist," while also warning that any increase to the tax rate paid on horseracing betting would "kill communities."
An agreement between the BHA, Jockey Club, and Arena Racing Company has resulted in the first voluntary blackout in British racing's modern history, with none of the four meetings scheduled Sept. 10 now taking place.
Afternoon meetings were planned at Carlisle, Lingfield, and Uttoxeter, with Kempton racing in the evening. The strike will reportedly have a £200,000 impact on the sport. On the day of the strike, the BHA is holding an "Axe The Racing Tax" event in Westminster.
"I suppose they might recognize that we exist," said Gosden, speaking from Deauville. "Sometimes you need to point out that we do exist. A lot of racecourses are in urban areas, just look at Aintree, Epsom, York, and Chester.
"It's not all rural but the horses are trained in rural areas and it's whole communities in employment. If you want to kill communities and create a lot of unemployment, if they do what they're talking about, that's exactly what will happen."
Prescott said: "I think we—it's all of our responsibilities—should have coordinated it earlier, but it's much better to do something than nothing.
"Everybody feels then that they've done something, which is important. Your own troops have to feel that you're doing something. I hope it goes well, and I hope one of my little plots wasn't supposed to be on that day."
Betting on racing and other sports is subject to a 15% duty, but there are real fears the government's consultation on harmonizing remote betting duties could lead to a hike to 21% to align with the tax rate levied on games of chance such as slots and casino games.
Economic modelling commissioned by the BHA showed an increase in the tax rate to 21% could result in a loss in income to British racing of £66 million.
Kelso managing director Jonathan Garratt, who represents small independent courses on the RCA board, said: "Having the blank day creates space for everybody to talk about the benefits racing brings to society, the economy, and country at large.
"It gives the chance for a public airing of areas such as the legalized registered bookmakers who pay tax in Britain and are already putting a lot of money into the economy. If you tax them harder but don't do anything about the black market, then we risk harming those who play by the book."
Explaining the shock move, the BHA's acting chief executive Brant Dunshea said: "We've decided to take the unprecedented decision to cancel our planned racing fixtures on September 10 to highlight to the government the serious consequences of the Treasury's tax proposals, which threaten the very future of our sport.
"British racing is already in a precarious financial position and research has shown that a tax rise on racing could be catastrophic for the sport and the thousands of jobs that rely on it in towns and communities across the country."
Responding to news of the one-day strike, a Treasury spokesperson said: "We're consulting on bringing the treatment of online betting in line with other forms of online gambling to cut down bureaucracy—it's not about increasing or decreasing rates, and we welcome views from all stakeholders including businesses, trade bodies, the third sector and individuals."
