British horse racing in the UK will stage an unprecedented strike on 10 September, refusing to race in protest against the Government’s proposed increase in betting tax. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is campaigning against the Treasury’s plan to introduce a single remote gambling tax, which would raise the current 15% tax on bookmakers to 21%, aligning it with online gaming. The BHA warns this would cause a £330 million revenue loss and threaten 2,752 jobs in the first year, potentially endangering the sport’s future.

This strike, part of the Axe The Racing Tax campaign, affects four race fixtures and comes just before the St Leger festival at Doncaster. BHA chief executive Brant Dunshea emphasized the precarious financial state of British racing and called on the Government to reconsider the tax rise to protect the sport and the communities dependent on it. This marks the first voluntary refusal to race in modern British racing history, highlighting the industry’s serious concerns over the proposed tax changes.